CHAPTER 12

Months later, Lily opened Jack’s final letter.

It was addressed to Scout.

Not Lily.

Not the police.

Scout.

The letter said:

If you found someone kind enough to take you home, stay with him.

He may think he rescued you.

Let him believe that.

But the truth is simple.

You were never meant to save me.

You were meant to save someone else.

Ethan stared at the page.

Lily looked at him.

“Who?”

The answer was Ethan.

Jack had seen Ethan years earlier.

He knew Ethan lived alone.

He knew he worked too much.

He knew he had stopped trusting people.

Jack believed Scout could help him.

The dog had been sent toward the highway during the attack.

And somehow, he ended up beside Ethan.

Maybe coincidence.

Maybe something else.

Ethan didn’t care.

He looked at Scout.

The dog was asleep at his feet.

“You saved me.”

Scout opened one eye.

Ethan smiled.

“Twice.”