Page 125 of Secrets in the Deep

“Oh my God.” Emily covered her mouth.

“I didn’t do it, I swear!” Faye’s chest heaved as she was dragged to a patrol car.

The deputies drove away with their suspect. Five minutes later, Ward was just about to get into his patrol car when Zac’s call came through.

“Ward, hold on.” Ryan answered the call. “You find him?”

“Yeah.”

Something about Zac’s voice almost made Ryan not want to ask. “Is he dead?”

“Not yet. But the heartbeat is so faint, I’m not sure he’s going to make it to the hospital. He’s lost a lot of blood. Ambulance is on their way.”

Not dead…not yet.

“What is it?” Ward asked.

“Zac’s with Preston. He’s alive.”

28

Ryan leaned back in his seat at Bloom, his team surrounding him. He should be relieved. Five days had passed since Faye had been arrested. Five days since the movie had officially shut down. And five days since Preston had been found and placed in a medically induced coma.

So why was there a pit in his gut? Because today was the first day he wasn’t with Emily? Because he felt like he was walking around without his right fucking arm?

She wasn’t even doing anything wild. She was at his house, and her mother was visiting before she left Deep River.

Which should be another reason to celebrate.

He lifted his cell and texted her.

Ryan: Your mom there yet?

Emily: Nope. She’s late. Very unlike Melanie Prior. But the later she is, the less time we have to talk before her flight home, so I’m not complaining.

Ryan: Sure you don’t want me there?

Emily: I’m sure. I need to do this alone. But thanks.

“You all right?’

Ryan locked his cell and looked at Zac. “Yeah. Just counting down the minutes until I can be back with Emi.”

“It’s good Faye was arrested before she could hurt Emily. I wonder what her ultimate plan was.”

“How did the script end again?” Joel asked from the other side of the table, shoving a nut into his mouth.

“There was some big finale at her house involving a fight. The heroine wins, Faye dies.”

“Maybe she was planning on changing the script,” Ethan said. “I’m sure in her version, she lived and Emily died.”

His skin crawled at the sheer fucking thought.

“But she’s behind bars,” Connor said. “She can’t hurt anyone.”

Ryan frowned as he looked out the window, onto the street. “It just feels too easy, you know? Why would Faye film herself trying to kill Preston, then leave the phone in Emily’s drawer?”

“She was bragging and obviously didn’t realize her bracelet was showing.” Joel shrugged. “Hell, if it had just been left for Ward to find, he may not have noticed the bracelet at all.”