It was cold enough that everyone would be wearing coats and hats and hoodies. She’d made herself as nondescript as possible, but still. With Kouretas blabbing about her being in town, putting everyone on high alert, she couldn’t take any chances. She wouldn’t be able to get out of the car like she suddenly longed to do—couldn’t go shopping or get something to eat. But she could drive around, gain her confidence back as a driver and see the area. She couldn’t imagine anyone would recognize her in a hoodie with sunglasses covering most of her face. People would have to look at her carefully to be able to recognize her, and there’d only be one or two opportunities to do that, maybe at a stoplight.

The town wasn’t big enough to keep her busy for long. But even after she’d driven through it a few times, slowly and carefully to compensate for her fear, and wound around the Topatopa Mountains that helped form the narrow valley that sheltered Silver Springs, she wasn’t ready to go home.

She could think of only one more option.

After pulling off to the side of the road, she searched for New Horizons Boys & Girls Ranch on her phone and called the number.

“New Horizons,” a female voice chirped.

Tia could hear Christmas music playing in the background. “Is Aiyana Turner in?”

“Yes, she is. May I tell her who’s calling?”

Tia couldn’t use her real name. The woman might recognize it. “Tell her...tell her it’s Seth’s new friend from the guesthouse.”

“One moment, please.”

Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Seth’s mother came on the line. “Tia? How are you? Better, I hope.”

Tia drew a deep breath. It was good just to hear Aiyana’s voice, which was weird since they’d only met once. “I’m fine. I’m...in the area and was wondering if...well, never mind. It’s a workday, so you’re probably busy. I was just hoping I could come by sometime.”

“Of course you can come by! Since you’re in the area, come now.”

The welcoming reassurance felt so nice. “Are you sure? I don’t want to bother you if this is a bad time, especially because I—I can’t allow myself to be seen by anybody else—not unless I want an unflattering picture splashed across the tabloids, and I’m definitely not ready to deal with that. So maybe we should just set a time, after dark, when it’d be safer for me to stop by?”

“That won’t be necessary. Seth might’ve told you I live on campus, but my house is distanced from the other buildings. Where are you?”

Tia leaned over her steering wheel to take a look at the wrought iron arch that marked the entrance to New Horizons. “By the turnoff.”

“To the school?”

“Yes.”