Chapter 71

"They found another body."

Claire's knees buckled at Dana's words. "Max?"

Jake jumped on the offensive. "Why would you think that?"

"It's not Max," Dana said.

Claire clutched the barstool for support, waiting for Dana to continue. Her face betrayed her when she had bad news to deliver. The smile lines near her mouth always bunched, chin twitching with melancholy. "Just tell me," Claire begged.

"It's Kylie Marx."

Bile rose so suddenly, Claire barely made it to the kitchen sink before vomiting.

Dana held her hair back, while Jake looked on in concern.

Claire knew he would tell Dana everything now. He had to. The time for bargaining was over. She understood that, but it changed nothing, no matter how bad things looked now.

It was just Claire and Max now. The way it was always meant to be. If Jake wanted to launch a manhunt, he'd have to do it without her help.

She stood up. Squaring her shoulders, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and looked directly at Jake. "I need to go lie down."