Page 52 of Only One More Lie

Silence answered.

He knocked again.

Again, it was silent.

“Caleb, we know you’re in there,” Duke called. “Open up. We have questions for you.”

There was no response. Did this guy think he could hide inside, pretend to be asleep, and that they’d go away? If so, Caleb had totally underestimated them.

Duke rattled the door handle—and it twisted.

The cabin was unlocked.

He and Andi exchanged a glance. He hadn’t expected that.

“Caleb, I’m coming in.” Duke slowly opened the door.

The last thing he wanted was for Caleb or one of his roommates to act out of fear and do something foolish—like try to attack them. For that reason, Duke remained on guard.

But instead of someone jumping out, an empty cabin greeted them. Two bunk beds. Clothes strewn across every surface. A TV in the corner with a jumble of chords spewing from it and the gaming system below. The stench of unwashed laundry wafted in the air.

It looked—and smelled—like a typical bachelor pad.

But there was no Caleb inside. So where had he gone?

“Since we’re already here . . .” Andi raised her eyebrows and stepped in farther.

Duke gave her a look. “You’re going to snoop, aren’t you?”

“I’m just going tobrowse.” She kept her voice casual. “It sounds much more innocent that way.”

“Much more.” He flashed a smile. “You should make it quick, just to be safe.”

Duke watched as Andi wandered the perimeter of the room, looking for anything that might catch her eye.

Suddenly, she stilled.

Duke followed her gaze to a piece of paper sticking out from beneath one of the mattresses.

As Andi gently pulled it out, Duke stepped closer and peered over shoulder for a better look at the handwritten words.

I’ve got to hand it to you, you’ve made a real mess of things. You’ve got one chance to make it right. Don’t make me tear you apart.

Duke sucked in a breath. “Nowthatsounds suspicious.”

Andi stared at the paper and shook her head. “You can say that again. What exactly is Caleb involved in? And is the use of the wordhanda coincidence? Andtear you apart?”

“I’m going to guess no.”

Using her phone, Andi took a picture of the note before placing it in her pocket. “I’ll hand this over to Gibson.” She moaned after the statement left her lips. “Bad word choice.”

Duke gave her a wry look.

A pair of shoes beneath the bed caught her eye, and she pulled them out. as she reached inside the boot, her fingers felt something. she pulled it out and held a clear bag toward the light.

Something red was inside. Something that looked an awful lot like blood.

Like fake blood.