Maya's POV

Regan shut the fridge quietly and leaned against the counter, facing me fully now.

"I mean..." He folded his arms. "It's one thing for someone random to die, but this is someone tied to a secret you've kept. And now he's dead. Strangled. On school property. That's not coincidence, Maya. That's a message."

My mouth went dry. I hadn't even thought that far, not clearly.

He continued, his voice low and even. "Whoever killed Ben might know he was involved with your kidnapping. Maybe ...