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I'd invited her into my life.

My hands started shaking. I clenched them into fists, trying to hide the tremor. I had to stay calm. Had to think. Graham and the others would be looking for me by now. They'd find the security footage from the hospital. They'd figure out what had happened.

But how long would that take? And what would Glenda do to me in the meantime? She could tip over the edge at any moment. Just how long did I have to live?

I needed to stay alive long enough to be rescued. But how?

“You know we were meant to be, don't you, Joy?” Glenda leaned forward, her eyes bright with fervor. “From the moment I first saw you on that stage, I knew. You have such a pure heart. Such a beautiful soul.”

I forced myself to meet her gaze. If I was going to survive this, I needed to play along. At least until I could figure out an escape plan.

“I knew how special you were when you showed your big heart.” I kept my voice soft, gentle. “When you wanted to adopt a kitten. You could have chosen any pet, but you wanted to save Rosebud.”

Glenda's face lit up like Christmas morning. “I knew you’d understand. You saw the real me, not the awkward woman everyone else sees.”

“Where is Rosebud?” I asked. “I'd love to see her again.”

Something flickered across Glenda's face. A shadow that was there and gone so quickly I almost missed it.

“She's fine. She's safe.” Glenda picked up her scone again, her movements jerky. “We need to eat our snacks now. I want to get started on that pineapple upside-down cake.”

She was deflecting. Changing the subject. What had happened to Rosebud?

I picked up the plastic spoon with my free hand—still tingling and half-numb—and took a small bite, though the food turned to chalk in my mouth. “These scones are delicious. When did you start baking?”

“As soon as I found all of your recipes. I thought you would like a partner who shared your interests.” Glenda practically glowed. “I've been practicing. I want to be able to cook all your favorites.”

We ate in relative silence, Glenda chattering about the lake house and how peaceful it was here. How we could be happy together, away from all the people who didn't understand us. She talked faster and faster, her words tumbling over each other in manic excitement.

When she finished her scone, she clapped her hands together. “Now for the fun part. You're going to teach me how to make your pineapple upside-down cake. The real way, with all your little secrets.”

“I'll need to be untied.”

“No.” The word came out sharp and final.

“Glenda, I can't bake tied to a chair. I need to move around, to measure ingredients, to check the oven.”

“I said no.”

“How am I supposed to help you if I can't use my hands properly?”

“You can tell me what to do. I'll be your hands, sweetie.” She smiled cheerfully.

Anger flared in my chest. This was insane. All of it. The kidnapping, the delusions, the casual way she'd admitted to murder.

“You hurt Graham.” The words burst out of me before I could stop them. “You tried to kill him, and he never did anything to you.”

Glenda's expression darkened. “He was in the way. He was keeping you from seeing what we could have together.”

“He loves me. I love him. We're going to build a life together.”

“No.” Glenda stood up so fast her chair scraped against the floor. “You think you love him because you haven't given us a chance. Once you see how good we can be together, you'll forget all about him.”

“I'll never forget about him. I'll never stop loving him.”

“You will.” Glenda moved to the counter and opened a drawer. She pulled out another syringe, already filled with clear liquid. “You just need more time to adjust.”

Terror shot through me. “What’s that?”