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Prologue
Todd
The front door to Athena’s house is busted open, and her belongings are strewn not only throughout her home but also into her private courtyard at the back of her property. It’s as though whoever broke in wanted to do as much damage as possible.
“So, do you think it was kids?” asks Athena’s brother, TB.
He’s been looking after the place after she and Kris Livingston moved to LA.
At first, I shrug, then shake my head as I bend down to pick up a smashed photograph of her and me together.
“No. They didn’t take anything.” Turing over the coffee table, I place the broken picture on it. “This feels more personal.”
“What then?”
“Did she seem right to you before they left?”
TB’s lips turn down, and he shrugs. “It’s difficult having your personal laundry paraded in front of the world. You know how shy she can be. Athena didn’t even want me to know about what happened to her, let alone having to discuss it with strangers on a talk show.”
I’m Athena’s best friend. TB is right—having to discuss her rape and relationship with Hollywood’s action hero hasn’t been easy on her. We talk every day, and I’ve never once asked her about the rape or her time in New York all those years ago.
Even though Athena is a world-renowned author and writes under the pen name, Athena Goddess, she never went to book signings or meet and greets. Athena was always shy, and it was a miracle she and I became friends. Sometimes I think she felt sorry for me being the only gay in the village. I’m not, but I’m sure she thought of me that way.
Boothbay Harbor, Maine, is a small town. Population—two thousand one hundred and thirty-one. Well, I guess it’s thirty now that Athena has moved.
Putting my hands on my hips, I look around the room. “I’ll get someone to come in and take fingerprints. The boys at Portland owe me a favor. The sheriff is on holiday for a week, so there’s no need to clear it with him. Being winter, there’s not a lot going on in Boothbay right now.”
TB nods. “Tell me about it. I’m just glad we had such a great summer. So many tourists were wanting to talk to me about Kris.” He rolls his eyes. “Honestly, if he weren’t my best friend and marrying my sister, I’d do a tell-all book.”
“Are you ready for the wedding?”
He grins. “Yeah, Ashlea and Shannon are beside themselves. You should see the endless parade of dresses I have to look at.”
Ashlea is TB’s wife, and Shannon is a waitress at the café he owns. Although she likes to tell everyone she’s TB’s best female friend.
“Ahh, Todd?”
I look at him. “Yeah?”
“Would you mind not telling Athena about this?”
Splaying out my hands in front of me, I ask, “Why?”
TB screws his lips together and then to the side. “She finally seems happy.”
“It’s her home, TB.”
“We’ll tell her after the wedding. It’s only two weeks away.”
“I don’t like keeping secrets from her, and she hates surprises.”
TB picks up a piece of a smashed coffee cup from the floor. “It’s only two weeks and that way,youcan tell her in person.”
“Why does it have to be me?”
TB grins. “Youareher best friendanddeputy here in Boothbay.”
“You suck.”
