My stepmother called and told me, “You’re banned from the family beach house. I changed every lock.” She sounded almost delighted. I simply replied, “Thanks for the update.” What she didn’t know was that my mom had placed the house in a private trust under my name before she passed away.

the gray morning. Gravel crunched beneath their tires as they came to a stop, and for one suspended moment nobody moved. Diana’s face had gone very still. Madeline’s phone drifted down to her side.

I reached into my bag and laid my hand over the folder Evelyn had prepared for me before I left Boston.

The driver’s door of the first patrol car opened.

And continue reading …