But Zach moved quickly. And before she knew it, he’d maneuvered himself between her and the alley, guiding her with his body until she was against a car. He leaned in, his eyes glassy in the shadowy light.

“I just want a kiss,” he said.

His hands landed on her hips. Then started sliding up.

She pushed them away once. And then again.

“Just a kiss,” he said.

“You’re married. What about Sophia?”

“It’s just a kiss.”

There was Mace in her purse, which she’d never have been able to get out. She’d dropped the beer can, so her hands were free to fight back. If only Hoffman had bought bottles, she could swing one. . . .

Then Zach’s hands were under her shirt, moving up. She tried to push them away, but he was faster. Stronger. She saw Sophia’s face in her mind.

Her friend. Her loving, caring friend.

And then someone called her name. A woman.

“Madeline?”

And it was enough to make Zach step back, even to distract him so Madeline could slip past him and away from the car. In the dark, Madeline squinted to see who it was. A familiar face, kind of. Someone she’d just been talking to inside.

Rebecca. The quiet girl from the bookshelves. The one who looked scared and a little out of place.

“Hey,” Madeline said. And started toward her.

And as she walked away, she heard Zach muttering to himself. Only one word reached her ears that she understood.

“Bitch,” he said.

She told Sophia everything. She told her friend everything because what was the point of hiding it? Sophia seemed to suspect already. And she certainly deserved to know.

She didn’t tell Sophia that she’d started working it into the plot of her novel. Sophia might remember that Madeline had been casting around for a plot, starting and restarting, but now she thought she’d discovered what her book could be about. Two friends, and the husband of one of them started showing an unhealthy interest in the other. Driving a wedge between the two women.

“I’m sorry, Sophia,” Madeline said. “I didn’t mean for any of it to happen.”

Sophia didn’t cry, but she did sniffle. She gathered her purse and stood up. Normally she hugged Madeline every time she left her, but that time she didn’t. She just stood up and started for the door, turning her back to Madeline.

And Madeline didn’t know what to say, didn’t know if she should reach out or follow her, but decided to just let her go.

And that was what Sophia did. She went right through the door, slamming it shut behind her.

And Madeline assumed she was never going to see her friend again.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

CONNOR

PRESENT

Despite Diana’s—and Bowman’s—promise, I expect to see cops waiting for me at the house.