Then some people vanished without a trace. Their cases were unsolved and their names were forgotten. The details were sparse. But a thread connected these events. Though the pieces were starting to come together, something crucial was still missing.
Drowned in my research, I didn’t notice the man who entered until he was standing beside me. I looked up, startled, and found myself face-to-face with Mateo.
“Looking for something?” he asked.
My heart skipped a beat.
He was too close. I could feel the heat from his body.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Mateo replied with his eyes narrowed. “I warned you to stay away.”
“I’m just doing my job,” I shot back, meeting his gaze. “Why are you so determined to keep me in the dark? What are you hiding?”
His jaw clenched. I thought he might lose his temper. But then he stepped back. “You’re playing with fire, Laura. You have no idea what you’re getting into.”
“Then why don’t you tell me?” I challenged, taking a step closer. “What’s happening in this town? Why is everyone so afraid? Why does it feel like everyone’s protecting you?”