“Calm down,” said Lt. Braga. “Maybe something happened, some sort of accident, and you feel responsible. Maybe you were doing drugs together. Do you know how many ODs we get on this island every month? Maybe you panicked.”

Was Claudia actually lying on a slab somewhere? Or was she just making shit up? Trevor knew he hadn’t hurt Claudia, but there were several people whose lives would be more comfortable if she were gone. And he was not going to take the fall for them.

“I don’t want to answer any more questions without a lawyer,” he said.

Lt. Braga and Officer Cross looked at each other, eyebrows raised, a little performance of surprise.

“All right” said Lt. Braga, standing up. “We do things by the book here. I don’t suppose you have anyone on retainer?”

“What?”

Lt. Braga smirked. “Will you be needing a public defender?”

“Yes,” He couldn’t believe he was here again. “Can I call someone?”

“Soon.”

Lt. Braga left and Officer Cross told him to stand up. They left the Constitution room and just before they reached the stairs, they passed a door with a window that looked onto what appeared to be an entry hall. Standing in the hall, talking to another man in a uniform, was Ridley Drake. Trevor stopped walking.

“Keep walking, please.”

“What is he doing here?” The understanding shook his stomach. His legs went hot. Claudia had come to the island, and Ridley had followed her, and … What? Trevor banged on the window.

“What did you do to her?”

Ridley turned but Trevor didn’t get to see his expression because Officer Cross pushed him forward.

“Where is Claudia?” Trevor shouted. He looked at Officer Cross, trying to regain his composure. He needed the officer to listen. He needed the officer to believe him.

“Please,” said Trevor, struggling for a breath.

Officer Cross grabbed his right wrist and twisted it back, then his left. It seemed like one motion. Suddenly he was in handcuffs.

“Move!” said the officer.

“Ask him about Claudia!” screamed Trevor. “Ask him!”

EDIE

They’d been scheduled to take off from JFK at ten a.m. but winds and then a mechanical problem and then a shift change meant the family spent seven hours in the airport trying to remain calm. Edie and Nathan took turns walking Lydia up and down the terminal, while Gabe and Michelle fell into their phones, getting sporadic updates from the Vineyard: An officer was at the house; Trevor was in custody; no sign of Claudia.

Lt. Lucinda Braga and Dave Wilcox were waiting at the airport. Dave drove the family home with the lieutenant following and when they pulled up, the chief of police was standing in the driveway with two uniformed officers. What was he going to tell them? Edie began shaking. Please, God, she thought, looking down at Lydia. Please.