she got it."

"Avery-" He squatted in front of her, caught her hands, gripping them tightly. "The blood's completely dry. It's been there a while."

"I don't understand what you're..." Her words trailed off as she got it.

"I'm sorry, Avery. I really am."

She brought her head to her knees once more.

"She could have fallen," he said softly. "Have you checked the hospitals?"

She looked up, hopeful. "No."

"I'll do it. I need to make a few calls, including one to Dad. Order an evidence crew over. Talk to Laurie,

her family. The other guests. But first, I think we should talk."

"Talk," she repeated weakly. "Now?"

"It's important." He rubbed her hands between his. "I need you to tell me everything. Are you up to it?"

She managed a nod. "I'll try."

"That's my girl. First, how did you become involved with Gwen Lancaster?"

As quickly and as succinctly as she could, Avery filled him in on how she and Gwen had become

acquainted. She explained about Gwen coming to her with proof of The Seven's existence. The suicides,

the freak accidental deaths. "I didn't believe her until I researched at the Gazette. When I saw all the

deaths...there...in black and white, I couldn't ignore her. Plus, she believed my father was murdered."

"And that's what you believed?"

She laced her fingers. "I just couldn't accept he had killed himself."

"Go on."

"So we joined forces."

He paused a moment as if mulling over what she had told him, putting the various pieces together, filling in

the blanks. "Why did you believe she had been murdered?"

"Because we had arranged to speak by phone and I wasn't able to reach her. And because The Seven knew she was onto them. They had given her a warning."

He frowned. "What kind of warning?"

"A gutted cat. They ransacked her room. Stole her notes and interview tapes." When he simply stared at

her, she stiffened her spine. "You think I'm making all this up, don't you? You think I'm losing my mind."

"I wish I did. As unbelievable as this all is, I can't discount it." He pointed. "That bloodstain is stopping me. The fact that she's missing. And that two other women are dead."

He paused. "The note you left, what did it say, Avery?"

"To call me. That I had found some evidence." It seemed a lifetime already since this morning, so much had happened. "Sallie Waguespack was pregnant, Matt."

He looked startled. "Are you certain?"

"It was in my mother's journals. She had...boxes of-" Her voice broke.

All gone. Her parents. Her childhood home. Every memento of growing up, ash now.

"He burned my house down. Because of the journals. He found out somehow. He killed Gwen. And the others. I found evidence. Trophies."

Matt leaned toward her. "Who, Avery? Who did it?"

"Hunter," she said, words sticking in her throat. "I think Hunter did it."

CHAPTER 50.

After the sheriff's department criminalists arrived at the scene, Matt drove her out to his parents' house.

As they drove across town, she detailed everything that had happened in the past few days-about her and Gwen going to Trudy Pruitt's trailer and finding Hunter's message on the woman's voice mail; discovering Gwen's name and room number scrawled on a paper by his computer; realizing that all the

deaths had begun after Hunter's return to Cypress Springs; and then finding the Ziploc bag of personal items that had obviously belonged to the victims.

"It's my fault," she said as he drew the vehicle to a stop in the driveway. "I told him about Gwen. About

what we discovered. That she had interviewed Trudy Pruitt." Her voice thickened. "I trusted him, Matt."

He turned and drew her into his arms. Held her tightly. When he released her, she saw that his eyes were bright with unshed tears.

She realized how hard this must be for him. Hunter was his brother. His twin.

His other half.

She brought a hand to his cheek. "Matt, I don't know what to say. I wish-"

"Shh." He brought her hand to his mouth. "We'll have time for this later. I have to go. Are you going to be

all right?"

She forced lightness into her tone. "With Lilah and Cherry cooing and clucking over me, are you kidding?"

He glanced toward the doorway where his mother and sister waited. "I'll come by later. Okay?"

She said it was and climbed out of the cruiser. She watched him back out of the driveway, then turned

and started toward the two women.

Lilah hugged her. "Avery, honey, I don't know what to say. I'm devastated."

Cherry touched her arm. "Don't worry about a thing, Avery. If I don't have something you need, I'll go out and buy it."

"Buddy called. He said it was arson." Lilah shuddered. "Who would do such a thing?"

Avery didn't want to talk about it. Truth was, she had neither the energy nor heart for it.

There would be time for talking, hashing and rehashing. Time to break it to Lilah what her son had become. She prayed she wasn't around when that happened.

"Would you mind terribly if we didn't talk about it right now? I'm just...overwhelmed."

"Poor baby. Of course I don't mind." The woman's cheeks turned rosy. "Maybe you should lie down, take a little nap. I know everything is clearer when I'm rested."

"Thank you, Lilah. You're so good to me."

The woman looked at her daughter. "Why don't you take Avery up to the guest room. I'll get some

towels and soap for the guest bath."

"Sure." She smiled sympathetically at Avery. "I'll grab you a change of clothes, in case you want to clean up."

"Thanks," Avery said, realizing then that she smelled of smoke.

They started upstairs. Halfway up, Lilah stopped them. Avery glanced back. "I'm fixing baked macaroni

and cheese for supper. With blueberry pie for dessert. We'll eat about six."

Avery managed a small smile, though thoughts of eating couldn't be farther from her mind.

Cherry left her at the guest room, then returned moments later with clothes and a basket of toiletries,

including a new toothbrush. Cherry held the items out. "If you need anything else, just ask."

Avery saw real concern in her eyes. She experienced a twinge of guilt for her former suspicions about the other woman. "Thank you, Cherry, I...really appreciate this."