Evan Thompson drove his BMW slowly down Alton Road, while Alex and Brooke watched from the edge of the driveway.
“Oh shit,” Brooke muttered under her breath.
The day had been eventful enough. Now Evan was back on the scene? They’d already had to call the cops once. His timing couldn’t have been worse, especially since everything had just returned to normal. A tub full of squirt guns had been depleted and there was a war raging between the younger Alton Road residents and a few playful parents willing to get in on the action. Grills were going full steam, sending plumes of charcoal smoke skyward. Balloons tied to the backs of lawn chairs provided pops of color to the green landscape. Clusters of neighbors chatted easily together, eating and drinking (mostly drinking) as the afternoon faded away.
What should have been an idyllic scene of neighborhood fun was now tinged with foreboding as Evan navigated his car carefully around the cul-de-sac and into the driveway of his former residence.
“What’s he doing here?” Alex wondered aloud. The yearbook had all but vanquished any lingering effects from the booze.
“Is Willow around?” Brooke asked with evident concern, but Alex was worried for Brooke as well.
Scanning the party, Alex soon spotted Willow idling by the tiki bar. Evan had to drive in front of the bar to get to the driveway, so she couldn’t have missed him. She didn’t look particularly alarmed.
“Let’s see what’s going on,” suggested Alex.
Gently taking Brooke by the arm, the two joined Willow at the bar.
“Evan’s here,” said Alex in a warning tone.
Willow gave a nod. “He needed to get some things out of his darkroom. I’m out of the house for a while, so it’s good timing,” she replied.
Alex recalled the hidden room containing his shrine to Brooke. Maybe he left some other secrets behind that needed to be removed.
“Where’s Riley?” Brooke asked.
Willow pointed to a gaggle of children who surrounded Riley like playful puppies, jumping up and down around her with unbridled enthusiasm. “The Nelsons are paying her to keep an eye on their kids,” Willow said.
Off in the distance, Alex could see Nick playing a game of cornhole with some of the other neighborhood dads. He glanced her way, but quickly averted his gaze. Maybe he wasn’t up for another confrontation, either. Good.
“Odd that Evan would pick today, the day of the block party, to get his things,” Brooke said.
Willow took a long drink of her wine spritzer. “I’m out here, he’s in there,” she said. “What can go wrong?”
Before Alex could get out the word plenty, Samir Kumar came rushing over to the tiki bar. Tense and disagreeable on a good day, he appeared even more so in that moment. “Have any of you seen Mandy?” he asked. “I can’t find her anywhere, and she’s not answering her phone.”
Brooke rolled her eyes. “God forbid she’s out of your sight for a hot minute. She is a grown and capable woman, you know?”
Samir didn’t flinch. “You don’t understand,” he said. “In fact, you have this all wrong. Alex, may we speak privately for a moment—please?”
Alex and Brooke checked in with each other, neither sure what to do. While Alex was more than willing to hear Samir out, she didn’t feel comfortable being alone with him. Judging by Brooke’s expression, she agreed. “We can talk right here,” suggested Alex.
Samir shifted his gaze to Willow, making it obvious he preferred that she not be part of the conversation.
Willow extricated herself politely. “I’ll go see how Riley’s doing with all those kids.”
After she departed, Samir’s eyes darted among the partygoers, assessing the crowd with concern. “I prefer we speak somewhere a little less public,” he said. “My son is at home, and I wouldn’t want him to overhear what I need to tell you.”
Alex said, “Nick and Lettie might be going in and out of the house, so I can’t promise privacy at my place.”
“I can,” said Brooke. “My house is so private it sometimes feels like a mausoleum.”
Alex peered across the way to where Evan’s car was parked. “I’m not so sure you can promise no one will be spying,” she said, “but I guess it’ll do.”