Chapter Fifty-Seven
The Anderson Family Home
Portland, Maine
Caspian felt his phone buzz again and immediately regretted not powering it off when he’d had the chance. It was Ranger. Again. Across from him, Liesel was looking at him, annoyed.
“Please, take it,” she said.
Caspian offered Liesel and Clara a tight nod, mouthed an apology, and stepped away from the kitchen table. He brought the phone to his ear as the doorbell rang.
“What is it, Samantha?” he said.
“About damn time you picked up,” Ranger said. “Where are you?”
There was an urgency in Ranger’s voice that told Caspian this wasn’t just a social call. “My parents’ house. Why?”
As he spoke, his mother walked past him, already heading for the front door.
“Mia Hernandez traveled from Miami to Portland this afternoon,” Ranger said. “I think she’s on her way to your parents’ house, if she’s not already there.”
Caspian’s body locked as every single muscle in him seemed to coil.
“Mom!” he shouted, spinning around. “Don’t open the door!”
But he was too late. Elizabeth had already turned the lock and cracked the door open.