Chapter 6

"Forty-three minutes."

A log cracked in the fireplace as Dario said it. I kept my forehead against his shoulder. My hand only tightened around his coat.

Forty-three minutes was time enough to call for help. An ambulance could have reached the lake. Vivian would have had time to understand that nobody intended to save her.

"How do you know the exact time?"

His hand paused on my back. "Julian was watching his watch."

"Waiting for her to die?"

"I don't know. I was terrified."

"Terrified people call ambulances. They don't keep time."

He said nothing. I stepped out of his…