The mugs and the sugar bowl clattered slightly as I carried them into the living room, calling attention to my shaking hands. I set one mug down in front of the detective, spilling a little of the coffee. He sopped it up with a napkin, then added four scoops of sugar. ‘We’re here because we have a few follow-up questions, and you’re the only witness.’

Witness. The word sent chills up my spine, even though that’s exactly what I was.

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘However I can help.’

McKnight smiled, but it was a fake one. ‘How close would you say you were to Mr Nolan and Ms Abernathy?’

The question threw me off balance. I’d expected him to have me run through last night’s events again. I tugged at the sleeve of my shirt, then stopped abruptly. ‘We’re good friends,’ I said.

‘And how long have you known them?’

I folded my hands in my lap. ‘Since September, when I moved here. We met right away, since we’re neighbors.’

McKnight pulled out a notepad, nodding.

My mouth filled with saliva, and I took a sip of coffee.

Parker sat stock-still, hands on her knees.

‘And where did you live before September?’ he asked.

A deep breath. ‘Brooklyn.’

‘Right.’ He didn’t even serve me with a nod this time, as if that was the most obvious answer in the world. His eyes were beady – they didn’t fit his round, doughy face at all. ‘So what brought you to the area? Kind of a big change, no? Most people – people your age, at least – they come up for the weekends. What about your work?’

‘I work from home,’ I said.

‘Doing?’

I hesitated only briefly. ‘I’m a writer.’

He forced a smile. ‘Have I read anything of yours?’

A lump rose in my throat, but I swallowed it back. ‘Nothing big. I haven’t written a book or anything. Mostly articles online.’

‘Great,’ he said, deadpan. ‘So you just had a craving for some mountain air? And leaving all your friends in Brooklyn behind?’

‘I had a bad breakup.’

He nodded, his shoulders loosening. ‘Can you tell us again exactly what happened yesterday?’

At least I knew this one by heart. ‘Yes,’ I said, facing Parker. ‘What I told you. We were hiking, on a hike we’ve been on before, and John went ahead to take some photos. I heard a scream – I mean, I stepped into the clearing, and then I heard him scream and saw him slip and fall.’ My heart pounded, banging my chest raw over such a stupid flub.