Closing my eyes, I dropped into a quiet space within me. The past flooded back like a flipbook, bringing back fear, anxiety, guilt, and erratic nerves.
I opened my eyes, blew out a heavy sigh, got up, and walked around, taking in the details of the public playground. Two gazebos sat in the distance, on the other side of the lake. There were tables next to a freestanding grill. A building with bathrooms and a canopy sat close to the picnic area.
I wasn’t sure what I’d find out here, but there was nothing pointing to Hawthorne or his men. Maybe my desire to visit these woods was my way of healing the past. I glanced at my watch and headed back to my car. Upon arrival, I discovered the stem of a black rose with a note sitting under a windshield wiper.
Who left the note? I whirled around, surveying the area, but didn’t see anyone. Who had been watching me? I opened the trunk of my SUV and took a latex glove out of my supply box. There could be fingerprints on the note. I had to be careful not to contaminate it.
Slipping on gloves, I picked up the piece of paper, setting the rose aside.
Vengeance is mine.
Hawthorne
My stomach tightened, nerves skyrocketing. Was this note truly from Hawthorne? After all these years, why was he getting retributionnow? Was he behind all the body parts that were sent to me and the boys?
I slid into my SUV and sat for a moment, gathering my thoughts. What prompted Hawthorne’s sudden action? What was I missing?
I drove up to the booth and questioned the old man, who was busy watching a fishing show on his tablet. “Did someone enter the woods after me?”
He looked over at me. “No. Are you waiting for someone?”
I held up the rose. “Someone left this on my windshield.”
He furrowed his eyebrows and smirked. “Got a secret admirer?”
I wanted to ask if he had ever received ablackrose from his secret admirer but restrained myself.
“Maybe it’s a trespasser. They do sneak in, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m stuck in this booth.”
“Do you have cameras in this area?”
“No.”
Disappointment mounted as I drove home.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Eva
The man strode away from Etched Square, heading toward Coolidge Corner, which was packed with people. I tried my best to follow him, keeping my distance in case he turned around. Nerves knotted my stomach, but I shoved them aside.
The Green Line screeched to a stop, and people poured out, crossing onto Beacon Street. For a moment, I lost sight of him. I dodged the groups of college students and spotted him in the distance. Taller than me, his steps ate up more distance, so I quickened my pace to keep up.
The man maneuvered past a group of people, turning down a street. As I ran to catch up, someone called me. “Eva!”
I turned to see Camila and Milo rushing toward me. I looked at the man, who was now too far ahead for me to catch up.
“Everything okay?” Camila asked.
I didn’t want word to get back to my grandfather about me playing detective.
“Yeah. I thought I saw someone I knew, but I was wrong.”
Milo’s eyes were fixated on the direction where the man had been. Then he looked at me. “He’s not a good person.”
“Do you know him?” I asked.
Milo said nothing, but his body trembled.
