A man’s voice called out, muffled by the distance but sharp with anger.

“Clara!” the voice called.

It was Marcus.

He was searching for me.

“He knows you’re down here,” Caroline whispered, clutching my sleeve.

“Keep quiet,” I hissed.

We crept along the stone wall of the cemetery, staying in the shadow of the tall cedar trees.

My boots sank into the damp grass, making almost no sound.

Behind us, a flashlight beam began to bounce through the trees near the family plots.

“Clara, I know you have the key!” Marcus shouted, his voice closer now.

The beam of his light swept across the headstones, illuminating the grey granite.

“We can make a deal,” he called out, his tone shifting to a false warmth that made my skin crawl. “There’s enough money for both of us.”

I didn’t answer.

I guided Caroline toward the opening in the iron fence where the river path began.

The path was steep and choked with briars.

I held the branches back for Caroline as we descended into the dark woods.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, the screen lighting up.