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Then she smiles.

Actually smiles.

For some reason, the sight of it fills me with apprehension.

It’s too deliberate. Too reassuring.

It feels… wrong.

My gaze then shifts toward Mrs. Trott, who seems to have developed a sudden fascination with the paperwork sitting on her desk.

Something is definitely off here.

“Okay,” I finally relent. “But don’t take too long. I’m not spending the entire night fending off the good people of Fairhope by myself.”

“I won’t,” Sienna promises, flashing me another smile.

Wonderful. Now she’s smiling even wider.

If that isn’t a sign of impending doom, I don’t know what is.

I bid them both farewell and head outside, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling that follows me to my car.

Once I’m behind the wheel, I toss my purse onto the passenger seat and glance back toward the B&B.

Sienna is up to something. I know she is.

I have no idea what that something might be, but I know my best friend well enough to recognize when she’s keeping something from me.

Maybe she’s uncovered another lead, or perhaps Chief Neptune has finally done something useful for a change and is on the verge of proving my innocence.

Whatever it is, she’s probably keeping me in the dark because she doesn’t want to worry me.

Then another possibility occurs to me—one that sends a fresh wave of unease crawling down my spine.

What if Sienna has come to the same conclusion I have? What if she’s started to suspect that Milo might be behind the murders?

I stare through the windshield, my thoughts racing as I consider what that would mean.

Unlike me, Sienna wouldn’t hesitate to act on her suspicions. She’s an FBI agent, for Christ’s sake. If she believes Milo is responsible, she’ll do whatever it takes to prove it. And if she’s right…

Fuck. I don’t even want to think about that.

All I know is that I need to find Milo before she does. I need to talk to him, find out what’s really going on, and give him a chance to explain himself before anyone starts throwing around accusations. If there’s even the slightest chance that Sienna is already closing in on him, then I need to warn him.

Even if it means protecting someone who might actually be guilty.

I close my eyes for a moment, hating how easily I’ve already made that decision.

Then I start the engine.

Whatever Milo has done, whatever secrets he might be keeping, I need to hear the truth from him. And if he turns out to be guilty… Well then, we’ll cross the bridge when we come to it.

Together.

Call it love, delusion, or some seriously misplaced loyalty, there’s not a chance in hell I’m letting Milo deal with this on his own.

So the world is down a few Reds. So fucking what?