Introduction

Ten years ago, I was seventeen, spending summers with my wealthy family and friends on Hawk Island. One terrible night, I blacked out. The next morning, my best friend, Melanie, was gone—vanished without a trace.

Today, I go back. To the island. To my sister's wedding. To a group of privileged people with whom I've never belonged. To my best friend's brother, a man who hates us all. To secrets that someone will kill to keep.

A storm is coming. A storm that will cut off the island from all hope of help. A storm that could allow a kidnapper to escape or a killer to murder again. A storm that will wash away all the lies and deception and reveal the true faces of All the Pretty People.

Will I be the next one to disappear?

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy invites you to experience her newest and most gripping page-turner to date; fans of Gone Girl, The Last Thing He Told Me, and One by One will love this psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist that will leave you breathless.

Editorial Review

No Editorial Review Currently Available

Excerpt

PROLOGUE

I felt an overwhelming wave of panic. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. Tears would only make it more difficult to escape.

I ran through the tall trees, my heart pounding against my chest. I didn't know where I was going, and the thick foliage and dark skies confused me. If I'd been in this area before, I couldn't remember it. I hoped I'd run into someone who could help me, but there wasn't a soul around, except for the person who was after me.

The wind gusted as the rain pelted my head. My clothes were quickly drenched, the water on my face freezing with the cold wind. My foot slipped as I hit a rock. I stumbled, hitting my hand against a tree to steady myself. The wood left a deep scratch, and blood dripped down my fingers, but I couldn't stop.

My breath came hard and fast.

A crack of thunder was so loud it almost knocked me off my feet. Seconds later, there was a flash of lightning. Maybe I could use the storm to my advantage. Perhaps the rain would make it more difficult to find me.

Then I heard someone crashing through the brush.

I sped up.

Crashing through the trees, I came to a terrifying, dizzying stop as I realized I was at the edge of a bluff. I looked down at the whitecaps below, the dark, churning water ready to suck me under. I couldn't let the sea take me. I looked to the left, then to the right.

One impossible choice.

Would it be the right one?

I turned to the left and sprinted toward another thick grove of trees. I needed cover. My lungs strained from the pressure I was putting on them.

Within minutes, I was running out of gas. Exhausted and disoriented, I didn't know which path to take, which trees to cut through. Every turn led into a deeper, thicker forest, paths that seemed untraveled by anyone.

Tears pricked my eyelids. The worst thought I'd ever imagined raged around in my head. Would I die tonight? Was this it?

A voice rang through the trees. “There's nowhere to go. Give up.”

“Never,” I muttered, not daring to scream the words, because that would be stupid, and I'd done enough stupid things already. I broke through another thick patch of trees and found myself back out in the open, with only a few feet between me and the edge of a cliff. I'd run out of room.

I'd made the wrong choice.

CHAPTER ONE

The ocean was rougher than I'd imagined. I knew going back to the island would be difficult, but I hadn't thought it would start with the worst ferry ride of all time.

“Willow? Are you coming downstairs? We want to toast the bride,” Rachel said impatiently.

“Later,” I bit out, as I gripped the rail and tried to ward off another wave of nausea. “I'm a little seasick. I need air.” I couldn't tear my eyes away from the horizon, needing something solid to focus on.

“Brooklyn really wants you downstairs.”

“Just go ahead without me.” I drew in another breath of salty air as Rachel left, hoping to quell the queasy feeling in my stomach.

I was torn between wanting to get to dry land and wanting to stay far away from Hawk Island. I hadn't been to the island in ten years, and I would have preferred to never return. But some things are more important than bad memories, and my younger sister's wedding was one of those things.

Ever since Kelsey changed her venue from Seattle to Hawk Island, one of the smaller islands in the San Juan chain off the coast of Washington State, I had felt anxious and unsettled. Now that the island was only minutes away, my stomach was churning, and it wasn't just because the ocean waves were tossing the ferry like it was a toy boat in a bathtub, it was because everything about this trip was wrong.

I wasn't just going back to the place I had summered every year of my life since I was twelve years old, I was going back to that last summer, when I'd been seventeen and filled with optimistic dreams about my future. Many of those dreams had been fueled by my best friend on the island, a local girl named Melanie Maddox. We'd been innocent, idealistic, believing in a world and a future that had ceased to exist after August nineteenth—the last day I'd seen Melanie. The last day anyone had seen Melanie.

In the days that followed that night, the search for sixteen-year-old Melanie Maddox had taken over the island. Endless questions from law enforcement had hammered home the terrifying reality that my best friend was gone, and I didn't know how or why or whether I could have prevented the worst from happening if only I'd made other choices that night.

My breath came faster as the guilt ate me up. I'd thought I'd made peace with the tragedy, but that had just been a lie I told myself. My stomach heaved, and I had to swallow back the nausea.

The thickly forested hills of the island loomed larger in front of me. I could see the waterfalls near the south bluff, the beach at Pirate's Bay, the caves along the western edge of the island that could only be accessed at low tide.

My hands suddenly itched to take a photo. It was a strange feeling, one that felt both foreign and familiar.

Summers on the island had been spent with a camera in my hand. Melanie and I had searched endlessly for the perfect shot. I'd taken photos everywhere, hoping to enter them into photography contests, maybe even get one published in a travel magazine. I had been so full of hopes and dreams back then. The future ahead of me—of us—had been infinite. So many possibilities.

I'd never imagined that future would be cut short for Melanie, or that I would come to hate the camera I had once loved. It was probably still on the island, still in my room where I'd left it.

I'd left my dreams of being a professional photographer behind, too. After that summer, I'd gone to college in San Francisco and majored in business. Then I'd moved from one boring job to another, finally ending up last year in a real-estate office where I turned out to be the worst salesperson they'd ever had.

It turned out that it wasn't just my dreams I'd given up on, it was everyone else's. I couldn't sell people their dream houses. I couldn't make them see their futures in overpriced old homes. When I'd asked my boss for time off for the wedding, she'd suggested I take all the time I needed to find another job, something I might actually enjoy.

I couldn't imagine what that would be. But it wasn't my future I had to worry about now; it was my past. The wind picked up, and enormous waves splashed over the rail. I forced myself to let go and move under the overhang. I didn't want to arrive on the island soaked and shivering.

As the ferry rolled with another wave, I grabbed hold of a pole to steady myself. I was surprised to see the bride, my younger sister, Kelsey, and Carter Chadwick, Kelsey's soon-to-be brother-in-law, having an intense conversation on the other side of the boat. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but Kelsey waved her hands in frustration. Then Carter grabbed her by the shoulders. He leaned in and said something to quiet her.

It was an odd moment, one that made my stomach twist for an entirely different reason. It felt like there was too much intimacy between them. I had to be imagining that. Kelsey was in love with Carter's brother, Gage. Kelsey had been crushing on Gage since she was fourteen, but it had taken eleven years for them to go on an official date and another year for them to get engaged.

Like his brother, Gage, Carter was tall, blond, and good-looking. Kelsey matched his looks and then some. At five-foot ten, with silky, straight blonde hair that drifted past her shoulders and striking blue eyes, she was stunningly pretty. She was also bone thin in a pair of white jeans and a clingy tank top under a white leather jacket. Kelsey had always been slender, but during the last few years, she'd become almost gaunt. It was a look that kept her in high demand in the modeling world.

Kelsey suddenly pushed Carter away. He whirled around, storming toward the back of the ferry. Kelsey turned, freezing when she saw me.

Was that guilt flashing through her eyes?

Kelsey's expression shifted and a deliberate, somewhat forced smile crossed her lips. She moved across the deck to join me. “Willow, I was looking for you.”

“Were you? It looked like you and Carter were arguing.”

“We were,” she admitted.

“Why? What's wrong?”

“Carter was trying to defend Gage for missing the ferry this morning because he wanted to finish up a contract. I took out my frustration on the wrong person. It's not Carter's fault that Gage is putting work ahead of our wedding. I'm just disappointed.”

“I get it. But Gage will be here tonight, right? Then you'll have his undivided attention.”

“Yes. He should make the last ferry.”

“So, it will be fine.” I wanted to make her feel better. Kelsey was my younger sister by thirteen months, and I'd always wanted to make her happy. That was a sentiment shared by everyone in the family because Kelsey was the baby, someone we all took care of. But she wasn't a little girl anymore. She was twenty-six years old and four inches taller than me.

Kelsey crossed her arms, a distant look in her gaze. “I know it's not a big deal, but it just feels like Gage has been putting work ahead of our relationship the last few months. I've basically planned this entire wedding with Mom.”

“I bet a lot of brides feel like that.”

“You're right. I just need to relax.”

“I'm sure everything will be perfect.”

“That's what everyone keeps telling me,” Kelsey said.

“But you don't believe it?”

Kelsey's display of nerves surprised me. She loved being the center of attention, the life of the party, the woman everyone was looking at.

Kelsey hesitated, then shrugged. “Ever since my original wedding venue canceled, and I had to scramble and reset everything on the island, I've felt off.”

“That makes sense. I still don't understand why you didn't just get another venue in Seattle.”

“Because everything was booked, Willow,” Kelsey snapped. “I didn't want to postpone my wedding for another year.”

“Why not? It's not like you and Gage need to rush. You're only twenty-six. This can't be about wanting kids.”

“Of course it's not about that. It's about marrying the man of my dreams, and I want to do that this year, not next. I want to move on with our lives. Mom convinced the Belle Haven Lodge to make room for us, and with Jenny as the event coordinator at the lodge, I get to work with someone I know. The island was the best alternative. Plus, Mom and Gage and Gage's parents all think it's romantic. We first met on the island as kids and now we're getting married there. We're officially joining our families together.”

“I guess, but still…”

Kelsey frowned as my voice drifted away. “It was a long time ago, Willow. Ten years.”

“This August,” I agreed, meeting her gaze. “It feels like forever, but also like it happened yesterday.”

“It's tragic what happened to Melanie. Not that we know what happened to her, but it had to be bad.”

“Yes. It had to be bad.” I murmured, trying not to think about just how bad it could have been.

“I know you haven't been back to the island since that summer, but I have, and once you're there, Willow, once you see the house and our friends and all the fun places we used to go, you'll remember the good times. We have a lot of great memories on Hawk Island. Long summer days, sno-cones and sunburns, endless beach parties. Remember those times, not the last time.”

“I'm trying.”

“The Belle Haven Lodge has also been completely renovated,” Kelsey continued. “You won't even recognize it. The island has changed, too. It's more developed now, new houses, shops and restaurants, and more people living on the island full time and working remote. You'll see how different it is.”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” I asked dryly.

She sent me an annoyed look. “You, of course. I want you to have fun at my wedding.”

I couldn't remember a time when Kelsey had cared that much about me enjoying myself. She wasn't a bad person, but she thought mostly about herself.

Kelsey shivered as the wind lifted her hair. “It doesn't feel like summer. I hope the rain won't ruin everything.”

I gasped as the boat took another big bounce. “Oh, God! Why is it so rough?”

“You look pale. The Dramamine isn't working?”

“I didn't take any. I forgot it, and then I was late for the ferry, so I couldn't stop.”

“Well, we're almost there. You should come downstairs and have some champagne.”

“No thanks. I need air. I'm going to stay right here until we dock.” I clung to the pole like it was a lifeline.

“All right.” Kelsey paused. “I'm glad you came, Willow. We haven't seen each other much in the past several years.”

“You've been traveling the world.”

“It has been an exciting time.”

“I'll bet. Every time I go online, I see your face. The cameras follow you everywhere. You're a celebrity.”

“I'm even more popular now that I'm with Gage. The former football quarterback turned sports agent and the supermodel make a great headline. A TV producer approached us about doing a reality show next year. He's going to come to the wedding and shoot some footage to use in his pitch to the network.”

“Really? Wow! You and Gage would be on TV?”

“Our agents think there's a good chance. They're both excited about it.”

There was an edge to Kelsey's voice that gave me pause. “Are you excited about it?”

“Why wouldn't I be?”

“I don't know, but you seem a little tense.”

“There's just a lot going on. I haven't slept well for the last few days. I just need to get to the island and get married.”

“Before…” I queried.

“Before nothing,” she said sharply. “Everything is fine, Willow. But there is one thing I have to tell you about. I don't want you to freak out.”

“That sounds ominous. Why would I freak out?”

“We're going to have a bonfire tonight.”

I started shaking my head before she finished speaking. “No. No way.”

“I thought it might feel weird, too, but Gage really wants it. Jenny said a lot of brides are doing it as part of their pre-wedding celebration. The lodge sets it up for all their wedding parties. It's not on the same beach. It won't feel the same as the ones we had as teenagers.”

“Kelsey, you can't have a bonfire. It's going to bring back bad memories for many people, not just me.”

“Jenny showed me photos from other weddings, and the bonfire looked beautiful, not like our drunken parties. This one will be classy.” Kelsey played with her necklace, running the heart charm up and down the chain. It was something she often did when she was feeling stressed. “Mom wants it. Gage's mom wants it. I can't go against everyone. I'm sorry, Willow. It is what it is, and I need you to get on board. You're my sister. You're a bridesmaid. You have to be part of everything.”

This wedding was getting worse by the minute. “I'll try,” I said, with little enthusiasm, wondering when I had suddenly become so important that I needed to be part of everything. I'd spent most of my life being overlooked.

My older sister, Brooklyn, came up the stairs. Brooklyn was three years older than me and four years older than Kelsey, and she'd been trying to manage both our lives since we were born, although she'd given up on me a long time ago. She and Kelsey had much more in common, including the fact that they looked very much alike with their blonde hair and blue eyes, while I'd inherited my father's dark hair and brown eyes. Brooklyn gave us an irritated look.

“Kelsey, Willow, what are you doing up here?” she asked.

“Willow is seasick,” Kelsey replied, making me her entire reason for being on deck, which wasn't true. But I sensed she didn't want me to say anything about Carter, which only made me more suspicious of what I'd witnessed between them.

Brooklyn's sharp gaze landed on me in an accusing fashion, as if I was conspiring to keep Kelsey away from her friends. “Didn't you take something, Willow?”

“I forgot.”

She gave a long-suffering sigh. “Well, that figures. Anyway, I need you both downstairs. We want to do another toast and take photos.”

“Sorry, but I'm going to stay up here until we dock,” I said.

“It's not always about you, Willow.”

I bit back a laugh at Brooklyn's comment. “Believe me, I know that.”

“It's fine,” Kelsey cut in. “There will be plenty more toasts and photos before the end of the week.”

Brooklyn shot me a dark look, then went down the stairs. Kelsey gave me a tentative smile. “I know you're worried, but everything is going to be okay, Willow.”

“I hope so, Kelsey. I want you to have the happiest day of your life.”

“I really want that, too.”

As Kelsey left, I turned back to the horizon, my gaze following a hawk as it circled over the island. I used to love watching the red-tailed hawks soar through the trees, with their wild warning screeches to the other animals to stay away from their nests, from their territory.

I'd followed the hawks all over the island. But after Melanie's disappearance, every time I saw the birds, I'd worried that they were leading me to a discovery that was both wanted and terrifying. It had been a relief to leave the island behind.

Now that worry had returned. But it had been ten years, I reminded myself. Nothing new would be discovered now. I was going back to the island for a wedding. I would replace the bad memories with good ones, and maybe it was time to do that. Maybe I needed to face the past, so I could finally let go of it. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

1. Willow is haunted by her best friend's disappearance and her inability to remember one night in her life. To combat the pain, she disengages from life, puts her dreams on hold, and her heart on ice. Would she have saved herself pain if she hadn't run away from the past and instead chose to confront it? Have you ever been haunted by something you couldn't quite remember?

2. The relationships between the sisters play a significant role in the storyline. As the middle child, Willow often felt left out and isolated from her siblings. Kelsey and Brooklyn were the bright rays of sun. Willow was the dark cloud. But circumstances forced Willow to step out of the shadows and literally save her family. How do you think the relationship between the sisters will change going forward?

3. Another important relationship for Willow is the one with her mother. Her mom is very distant and treats her poorly during the book. While Monica seems to want to apologize at the end, there's still a distance between Willow and her mother when the story ends. Do you think this is a relationship that can get closer? Or do you think that some mothers and daughters can share a biological love but not a warm relationship?

4. The pain of losing her best friend in an unspeakable tragedy has haunted Willow and made her unable to move on with her own life. Do you think that she'll be able to fully move on now that she knows the truth? Does the truth really set you free?

5. The theme of secrets plays throughout this story. At the end of the book, Willow wrestles with one last secret. Does she tell her father about her mother's affair? Her mother tells her that her father already knows. But does he? And is it Willow's secret to tell? What would you do if you found out your parent had cheated on their spouse? Is it their relationship? Or do you have a duty to your parent to speak the truth?

6. When Melanie disappeared, so many people chose to protect themselves by telling a lie. They rationalized that as long as they weren't responsible for Melanie's disappearance, their lie didn't matter. Do you think the killer would have been discovered sooner if everyone had told the truth ten years ago? Or was it always going to take another big event like a kidnapping to bring the truth forward?

Weblinks

»	Author's website

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 0 members.

Member Reviews

There are no user reviews at this time.
Rate this book