Later that day, after she had eaten and changed clothes, Claire drove toward Devils Lake.
The road grew quieter as she left Portland behind, and by the time she reached the lake house, the driveway looked ordinary again.
Margaret met her near the porch with two paper coffee cups.
“I thought you might need this,” she said, handing one to Claire.
Claire unlocked the front door with her new key and stepped inside.
The house smelled faintly of clean wood and the lemon cleaner she had used during her previous visit.
The refrigerator was nearly empty because Claire had not filled it for twenty people who had never been invited.
There was nothing damaged, nothing missing, and no evidence that anyone had forced a window or door.
Claire set Margaret’s coffee on the counter and walked through each room anyway, checking the windows, the back door, and the garage entrance.
Margaret followed without telling her that the extra caution was unnecessary.
When they returned to the kitchen, Claire opened the security application and reviewed the morning footage.
