“Did you stage the break-in at Gleeson’s practice?”

I gave a soft laugh. Who else? “I realized after I killed Adele that the police would investigate the meetings—”

“But you never went to the meetings. How did you even know who Adele was?”

My throat hurt from the cold, icy needles piercing the delicate flesh. “I made a habit of downloading the SD cards after each session and watching them. I saw Adele on the videos, and I’d sat outside a few times and knew she was always the last to leave.”

“Why kill her?”

Darby was so pathetic.

I felt my lip curl with annoyance. “I figured at some point the cops might examine Gleeson’s office. Find the cameras and computers and realize someone had copied the data. Staging the break-in was a way to confuse the issue and, I guess, I hoped me disappearing for a few days might also point the finger at Gleeson.”

“Did you come to Fairbanks because I was here?” The fur of her hood covered her hair and combined with the snow and lack of moon it was difficult to make out her expression. “Did you come here to kill me?”

“Kill you?” I asked, incredulous. “No.” Pain stabbed my chest. Jesus. I looked around. We’d walked farther onto the lake than I’d planned. We needed to cut back to the shore. “I mean, yes, I came to Fairbanks as you were going to school here. I wanted to meet you.” I wanted to be your friend. “But I never wanted to hurt you. I wanted to save you.”

I braced myself for the moment she started telling me she didn’t need saving. She didn’t need someone like me as her best friend.

“Why did you want to save me?” Her teeth chattered. “Did you go through something terrible yourself?”

I looked away but then back at her.

“I don’t usually talk about it,” I admitted. I thrust the hand holding the gun into my pocket and made sure she could tell I was still pointing it at her. I didn’t want to use threats, but I wasn’t stupid enough to believe she’d come willingly. Not yet. Where were we now? I’d become lost. My vehicle was near a boat launch. I’d meant to circle around to it, but I’d gone off course in the blizzard. I couldn’t think straight.

“I understand. I don’t talk about it either.”

I knew she’d get it. Even though she’d never revealed anything about being sexually assaulted to the media or to Gleeson, I knew what she’d suffered. That was why I’d had to come.

She stumbled again, tripping over an uneven piece of ice. I grabbed her by the shoulder, but pain wrenched through my arm at the movement and I let her pull herself up.

Sweat coated my brow, immediately freezing.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

I wasn’t sure yet but didn’t want to tell her that. We’d find another vehicle and get the hell out of Fairbanks.