Still, the memory of what happened last time lingered in her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than coincidence. She had been mulling it over for a while, but she still couldn’t make sense of it.

“Better safe than sorry,” Dave replied sharply. “Tonight, I’m going to test the waters.”

After a few more words, he ended the call.

They had agreed to meet at the Edenfield Hotel, a safe choice to avoid any tampering with their drinks. The hotel was part of ...