It wasn’t the first time Kennedy had said someone was following him, nor the first time he didn’t show up where he was supposed to be. It came with the territory, with issues like his. Joanie knew not to panic. He’d turn up sooner or later, dirty and skinny and tired. He’d sleep in her guest room for three days, and then they’d talk about rehab. Again.

They’d been down this road before.

At lea...

The chilled night air was sharp, stinging her nostrils with each ragged breath. The frosty grass crunched beneath her bare feet like shards of glass. She hurried, pushing up onto her toes and bolting across the lawn. She had to get out of the open. She couldn’t be seen.

Just as she reached the tree line, a light flicked on in one of the upstairs bedrooms of the cabin, bathing the yard in light. S...