Chapters (97)
- Cover
- Back Cover Text
- Praise
- Booklist
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Eighty-Eight
- Eighty-Nine
- Acknowledgments & A Personal Note
- Excerpt
“I know, I do. I understand, but give it time. And no more acting out or missing class. They’re sympathetic but you’re on thin ice at school. So the next time you’re having trouble, talk to me, or Emma, first. Promise?”
“All right, I promise.”
Ben rubbed her shoulders.
“I’m sorry for making you worry, Dad.”
“I know. It’s all right.” He pulled her close. “It’s been a tough day. Emma…she saved a boy today at her school.”
“Really?”
Ben relayed the incident as they started down the slope.
“See, honey,” Ben said when he’d finished. “Your stepmom’s really a good person.”
Kayla nodded. “Dad, can we maybe go to the cabin some weekend?”
Ben hesitated. Since the accident, they’d only gone a few times, some of them with Emma. He was thinking of selling it in case he had to pay back his advance. But Kayla’s request surprised him and he weighed the idea as a positive, given that it was Kayla’s.
“We’ll see. Maybe later when I get things settled on the book front. Until that time, why don’t we all go to the beach this weekend? How’s that sound?”
“I’m in.”
“Good, okay. Here.” He handed Tug’s leash to her as they walked and reached for his phone. “I’ll let Emma know we’re on our way back.”
He texted:
Found her. Safe. On our way home.
Oh, thank God, Emma responded with a heart and happy face.
Seven
Orange County, California
Present day
On Sunday they drove up the Coast Highway stopping at a beach Ben liked near Laguna. It wasn’t crowded. The three of them set up the blanket, umbrella and chairs. Then Kayla and Tug headed for the surf while Ben worked on his tablet.
Emma had a Stephen King hardcover on her lap. She had taken the note left under her wiper at school and had folded it into the pages so she could secretly study it.
SOON IT WILL BE 20 YEARS. YOUR DAY OF RECKONING IS COMING.
Who’s doing this? There’s got to be a way for me to find out before it’s too late.
She strained her mind to think of an answer but hit a wall.
Emma closed her book, keeping the note hidden, when Kayla returned with Tug sometime later, and poured some water for him into an overturned Frisbee. Ben shut off his tablet, got a rubber ball from their bag and stood.
“I’m going to take a walk with Tug. Will you two be okay alone here?” Ben smiled.
“We’ll manage.” Emma smiled back.
Tug barked his approval and they left.
Watching Ben and Tug walk away, Kayla turned to Emma.
“He’s not very subtle, is he?” Kayla said.