Violet wasn’t typically one to harbor hate in her heart—it made her chest heave and her hands sweat—but Trudy had diminished into a shell of herself. Where she once had a cheeky sense of humor, she now rarely gave herself over to laughter or any kind of fun. Where she’d once been meticulous about her appearance, brushing her hair until it shone and carefully applying eyeliner and mascara to accentuate her almond-shaped eyes, now she often came to the door with disheveled hair or only wearing one earring, as if she’d forgotten what she was doing halfway through getting ready for the day.

In total contrast to Trudy, Jay had remained as robust and as charming as he’d always been. In public, that is. In private, when Violet would go to their house to visit with Trudy, his smile was half a shade off, the barest tone in his voice hinting at a passionate anger ready to be released, like a tiger pawing at its cage. He never let it out in Violet’s presence, of course, but she saw it on Trudy’s skin—a blooming purple ring around her wrist, a green-hued mark on her thigh, a bite on her neck. And always the trembly, watery smile.

Violet had even tried talking to the police about it. She waited until Jay was gone, another mystery disappearance that had left Trudy fretful and desperate. Passing the Sugar Bend police station on her way home from the grocery store, she saw an officer climbing out of his cruiser in the parking lot, then walking toward the front doors of the building. The man looked like the kind of grandfather she’d always wished she’d had. Someone who’d sit next to a hearth and stoke a fire and listen to everything his grandchildren wanted to tell him. Her heart nearly burst with gratitude as she turned her car around and pulled into the parking lot.

Finally. Someone who can reach in and help me with this mess.

Though she was hoping to be able to speak to that very same officer, she didn’t see him in the front lobby. Instead she told the first person she saw that she needed to speak with someone about an abusive situation, and she was led directly to a back office. Three officers in blue uniform shirts sat at desks, and a fourth man sat with his hip propped on the edge of a desk. Violet exhaled in relief—it was the kindly man from the parking lot. The badge on his white shirt read Hutchins, and when he smiled, his cheek dimpled. “How can we help, ma’am?”

After explaining the situation as well as she could, she folded her arms together and dipped her head. “I should have seen it coming, but I was caught up in all his charm and charisma just like everyone else. Jay’s the friendliest guy in town, right?” She chuckled but stopped short when she realized the officers were all exchanging glances.

“You’re talking about Jay Malone?” Hutchins asked.