“No, his son. It explains why no one saw Charlotte after the party. It explains the rumors about another boy. It explains why Sampson would change the blood—he’d been friends with Noah. They switched Danny’s blood for Kyle Brawn’s.”

“The baby wasn’t Danny’s,” Liv said. “It was Kyle’s.”

Just then Maggie emerged from her bedroom. “What’s wrong?” she said, looking at her parents. “What’s going on?”

“We got him, Magpie,” Evan said. “We got him.”

CHAPTER 62

MAGGIE PINE

BEFORE

Maggie looked at her parents. “I can’t believe it. Dad, you did it.” Her voice broke; she was nearly vibrating with excitement.

Her father looked dazed. He squeezed Mom’s hand, and said, “No, we all did it. And you get the most credit, Magpie. You.”

Maggie felt a welling in her chest. “But Kyle Brawn. Why? I don’t understand.”

“I don’t know why. Maybe he got her pregnant, and maybe he didn’t want to let that get in the way of his life.”

Her mom chimed in: “And maybe he had help covering it up.”

“You think his dad…” Maggie didn’t finish the words. Noah Brawn had been on their side, a Free Danny Pine warrior like them. She felt a wave of betrayal. He wasn’t trying to help; he was creating a diversion. Kyle’s friend Ricky was who’d identified the Unknown Partygoer. Noah Brawn was the one who got the filmmakers to focus on the Smasher.

“Who’s the guy with the scar on his lip, and the lady?” Maggie asked.

“Maybe scam artists or weirdos. Or maybe someone Noah hired to pull us off the trail when Detective Sampson’s wife gave Mom the evidence.”

Maggie still wasn’t quite sure. Why would they lure them to Mexico? Why the elaborate ploy pretending Charlotte was alive? But those questions could wait. “I’m gonna go text Matt!”

Maggie was so excited, she felt almost light-headed. She darted into the bedroom and flew onto the bed. She pulled her phone from the charger and opened a text to send to Matt. Where to begin?

All at once, her thoughts were jumbled. The room was wobbling. She wasn’t feeling well, and tried to sit up.

But she couldn’t move.

What was happening?

Then she nearly leaped out of her skin.

A figure. A man stepping out of the closet! Maggie tried to jump up, tried to scream, but she was incapacitated. What the hell was going on? Her heart was banging in her chest, but it was as if she were paralyzed. Her body wouldn’t listen to the commands of her brain. Get up. Get up! But she was motionless, petrified wood. The man moved in her line of sight.

Holy crap, it was him. Help! Dad! The words wouldn’t come out. A terrible panic enveloped every part of her.