Page 13 of Shattered By the Currents

Eileen Baker, missing ten years.

Fern Paley, found dead in the water six years ago.

And then, right in the middle of that timeline, was Lila Wren. A tourist who went missing in this very forest fifteen years ago.

Maybe she wasn’t the same woman though. “What happened to her?”

“I don’t know. One day she just told me she was leaving Minnesota. That there was a story here in Deep River. She never came home.”

“How long ago?” Joel asked.

“Fifteen years today,” Herbert said. Then he looked at Connor with more clarity than the man had ever possessed before. “Someone murdered her. I know it.”

4

Raven stood at the kitchen counter and read the text again.

Polly: Hey! Mags and I are going to Trap tonight. We’d love you to join us.

She’d gone to Trap with the women before and had a great night. Possibly the best night since arriving in Deep River.

Plus, the two women were the closest to friends she had. And shewantedfriends. She wantedsomeoneoutside of her parents in this town.

So why was she hesitating?

Because the advance on her pay wasn’t due to hit her account for another day, meaning she had almost no money to spend on going out? But…she didn’t really need a lot of money to have a good time. Heck, she could survive on soda water.

Raven: I’d love to. What time?

Polly: Eight?

That gave her an hour to get ready. She could do that.

Raven: See you then.

Her lips curved into a smile, the first real one all day.

Quickly, she rushed to the bathroom to shower. It took her longer than she thought it would to get ready. But then, her hair was not cooperating, and she had to redo her makeup three times. She had no idea why, but nothing seemed to look good.

By the time she reached Trap, it was a quarter past and the place was packed. Still, it didn’t take long to find the women. They stood at a table near the pool table, three glasses in front of them.

Raven stopped beside them. “Hey. Sorry I’m late.”

“You’re here.” Polly’s gaze raked over Raven’s body. “And holy shit, woman, you look hot.”

Maggie nodded. “You look beautiful.”

“Really?” Raven glanced down at her soft, fitted sweater. It was beige, and she’d paired it with a black skirt, tights, and boots. “I thought I was going to be underdressed.”

Maggie shook her head. “No, it’s jeans all the way here.”

“How’s your week been?” Polly asked.

Stressful. Frustrating. Emotional to the point that she’d been on the verge of tears on at least three separate occasions. “Honestly? Shit.”

Maggie’s brows shot up, while Polly just pushed a drink in front of her. “You need this then.”

“No, I couldn’t.”