“You know you’ll never be welcome in this town, don’t you?”
His words stung like a smack in the face. But she wasn’t surprised. Then again, she didn’t know what it was like to lay down roots.
She nodded slowly. “Yeah, I know.”
She walked back to her SUV, climbed inside, and tried to crank the engine. Nothing happened.
She closed her eyes and leaned against the seat for a minute.
What now? Her car? Would anyone here even fix it for her? Or was she already that hated?
As the thought fluttered through her mind, she glanced over and saw there was a garage within walking distance.
Brynlee was about to find out just how welcome—or unwelcome—she was here in this town.
She walked through the doorway but saw an empty lobby area. “Hello?”
Nothing.
Maybe everyone was in the garage area. Brynlee stepped through the door, expecting to see a repair bay. Instead, she found a hallway with an office in the back.
“Hello?” she called again.
Still nothing.
With a sigh, she pushed open the door across from her.
She paused inside the repair bay. It was empty. And dark. And smelled like motor oil.
This place was closed, wasn’t it?
She was going to have to come up with a Plan B and find another mechanic. Otherwise, she’d be spending the night in her broken-down vehicle until she could have it repaired.
She was a survivor. She could do that if she had to. She’d learned through the school of hard knocks, and those lessons were now going to pay off.
As Brynlee turned to step out, she heard a footstep behind her.
She turned to see who it was.
Before she saw anything, a terrible pain spread through her head.
Someone had hit her.
Before she could defend herself or run, everything went black.
* * *
As Boone walked toward his truck, he set aside his anger toward Brynlee and dialed her number.
The call went straight to voicemail.
His jaw clenched. He needed to get in touch with her. She could still be in danger. He’d lost Kat, and, to this day, he wished he’d done more to protect her. It was too late for that.
But it wasn’t too late for Brynlee.
Where did he even start looking for her?
As his phone rang, he glanced at it. Was Brynlee calling him back?
His heart sank. No such luck. It was Abe.
“What’s up?” Boone answered, cranking his truck engine.
“Can you come down to the store? There’s something I think you’re going to want to see.”
“I’ll be right there.” Maybe Boone would look for Brynlee on the way.
He called Harper as he drove, and she told him that Brynlee had picked up her things.
“She looked really sorry, Boone,” Harper said.
“Being sorry doesn’t change things.”
“No, but forgiveness does.”
His jaw clenched. Harper was right, but he wasn’t ready to deal with that yet. One thing at a time. His first priority was finding Brynlee.
Fifteen minutes later, Boone pulled to a stop near Abe’s Outfitters. His friend was working inside the kiosk. He reached below the counter and pulled something out.
“Brynlee wanted me to give this to you.” Abe handed him something.
Boone glanced at the paper. It was a check—for the amount Brynlee had promised to pay him.
He let out a puff of air. She was still stubborn, even after their fight. He’d told her he didn’t want this money.
“When did she drop this off?” Boone asked.
Abe shrugged. “Probably twenty minutes ago.”
“Did she say if she was leaving?”
“That was my impression. But her SUV is still sitting there.”
“Which direction did she walk?”
Abe nodded down the street. “That way, I think.”
“Thanks.” Boone took off down the road. His gaze scanned the area for Brynlee.
He didn’t see her.
Finally, he stopped by her SUV. The black SUV with the claw marks going down the side. His stomach tightened at the sight, which reminded him of just how crazy this person they were dealing with was.
But Brynlee was nowhere to be seen.
He glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
“You looking for your friend?” Lonny Thompson paused near him. He held some bags in his hands from the local hardware store. It appeared he’d been out doing errands.
Boone’s gaze narrowed. “I am. Have you seen her?”
“I did. She tried to start her SUV but couldn’t. The engine wouldn’t turn over.”
“Did you see where she went?”
He nodded toward a building in the distance. “Saw her head to the garage.”
“To Edward’s? It’s not open today.”
Lonny shifted his bags, as if they were getting heavy. “Just telling you what I saw.”
Boone started to step that way but paused. “Lonny, what happened to your arm?”
The man’s cheeks turned red, and he touched the spot where his cut was. “Nothing. Why?”
“How’d you get that injury?” Was this a clue he needed in order to find Brynlee?
Lonny tugged at his sleeve again. “Long story.”
“Give me the short version.” Boone’s voice left little room for argument.
“I decided to go look in the woods myself.” Lonny frowned, as if he were embarrassed. “This whole case has fascinated me. Then again, I’ve always been fascinated with wildlife. But, as I was hiking, I fell and cut myself. I’m not as young as I once was. I just don’t want people to know it.”
Boone studied his face. The man appeared to be telling the truth. But, at this point, Boone wasn’t ruling anyone out as a suspect.
“If you hear anything, let me know,” Boone said.
Wasting no more time, he took off toward Edward’s. He needed to find Brynlee.
Now.
43
Brynlee jerked her eyes open. Her gaze scampered around. She pulled in short, anxious breaths.
Where was she?
Her surroundings slammed into focus.
She was in the cabin. The one where they’d found the bear suit. The one her dad’s family owned.
Her legs and arms had scrapes. Her body ached. Her head throbbed.
Had someone carried her up here? Maybe half dragged her through the wilderness?
It was the only thing that made sense. People couldn’t drive to this place.
She needed to go.
But when she tried to move, she realized she couldn’t. Her hands were tied behind her. To a . . . post. She was in one of the bedrooms. It was dark. Dusty. Cold.
It felt like a waiting room . . . before death.
She shivered. Not only from the cold but from the situation.
What was this person planning to do with her when he came back? Would he kill her like he killed those hikers? Why hadn’t he killed her already?
The bigger question hit her. Who was behind this?
Was it Lonny? The man had that cut on his arm that he’d acted strangely about.
Witherford had strong feelings about this area not being developed.
What if it wasn’t someone from this town, at all? What if trouble had followed her here?
Because she could think of someone who would want her dead and who’d have the perfect motive.
Her brother.
She didn’t want to think that was true. But she needed to consider all her options. Could Mason have staged all of this in a quest to get her dad’s money?
He wouldn’t do that . . . would he?
Then again, his motive was the strongest.
Brynlee had no idea what the truth was. But whoever was behind this would be back soon and finish it.
She tugged at the ropes that pinned her arms
behind her. At the ones that forced her legs together.
She could scream, but no one would hear her out here. She was all alone.
Just like she’d always been.
Would anyone even look for her?
A cry caught in her throat. She knew the answer.
No.
Boone was the only one who might have, but now he wasn’t even speaking to her.
The rest of the town . . . they’d be happy she was gone.
She was going to have to figure out this nightmare on her own. She’d figured out her childhood. Figured out how to fend for herself. She could do it now also.
Maybe her whole life had been preparing her for this moment.
* * *
Boone knelt on the ground inside the garage.
Blood. There were subtle drops of blood in the repair bay.
Had Brynlee come in here? Had someone attacked her?
The bad feeling continued to grow in his gut. He should have never left her alone—even after he found out the truth.
Think, Boone. Think.
Okay, if someone had grabbed her, this person could have stuffed Brynlee into his car and taken her somewhere.
But where? Where would someone take Brynlee?
There was only one place that came to mind.
Dead Man’s Bluff. That’s what all of this was about, wasn’t it?
That’s where Boone needed to go. But he needed to assemble a team first. That mountain was too big to traverse alone. He needed backup. And he needed more eyes on the area.
He called Luke and told him what was going on.
Now he needed to figure out who was behind this.
Mason Brinkley?
Who else could it be? Big Ben was still behind bars.
Todd Michaels?
Boone couldn’t see him doing this.
But it was someone who felt protective of Dead Man’s Bluff. Someone who wouldn’t let anything stop him.
And if Boone didn’t find Brynlee in time, she was going to die. He had no doubt about that. That mountain couldn’t claim another life.
44
The minutes ticked past. Brynlee hadn’t been able to loosen her bindings. That left her nothing else to do but sit here and wait for whoever had left her to return.
Tears pressed into her eyes. She couldn’t give up this easily. But what else could she do?
She needed to figure out who was behind this. If she knew that, maybe she could strategize a way to convince him this was a bad idea. It was a long shot . . . but she was desperate.
She continually reviewed the suspects. Who was she missing?
Whoever it was had been large.
She could probably rule out Lonny. The man was older, frailer. She couldn’t see him hauling her up here.
What about Mason? It seemed ludicrous he would go through such measures. However, he could afford to hire someone. But why? Did he think he’d get more money if he was able to develop this land himself?
The man had never liked her, and he’d seemed ruthless.
She was never going to find acceptance with that side of her family. She wished she’d realized that sooner. Maybe she wouldn’t have gone on this crazy quest.
Had she come to fulfill her father’s wishes? Or was she trying to impress her half-brothers?
She wasn’t sure. It could be a little of both.
Either way, she’d always done life on her own. She needed to accept that outcome for the future as well.
Focus, Brynlee. Focus.
Who else could be behind this? She needed to think everything through.
She tugged at the ropes around her wrists and ankles again. It was no use. They were tied tight. She wasn’t going anywhere. She had no choice but to wait until whoever had left her here returned.
Despair pressed on her.
A noise outside the cabin caught her ear. Then a squeak.
The door had opened.
She held her breath, unable to breathe.
The door opened.
Someone stepped into the room.
It was the killer Brynlee had seen on the trail when she first arrived in town.
And he was staring at her, a hungry look in his eyes.
* * *
“Which way do you want to go?” Luke asked as they stood at the trailhead that led toward the Dead Man’s Bluff area.
“You and I should take the fastest way,” Boone said. “The rest of the groups should pair off, and we should cover different parts of the trail.”
“I agree.”
Boone frowned as he considered the task before them. “I know it’s a long shot. We’re just guessing here. But Dead Man’s Bluff is the only thing that makes sense. It’s what this all goes back to.”
“We should get moving then.”
“That sounds like a plan.” Boone glanced around at the team with him. Luke, Cruise, Abe, and Chigger. A park ranger was also there.
These were some of the best outdoorsmen Boone knew. Cruise and Abe would pair off. So would Chigger and the ranger.
“Let’s go,” Boone said. They didn’t have any time to waste. He and Luke would take the fastest route—up the cliff near Dead Man’s Bluff.
His thoughts raced as he hiked. Kat’s image flashed through his mind. Then Brynlee’s. Each one seemed to haunt him now.
Though he couldn’t support Brynlee in the reasons she’d come here, he did care about the woman. Did that mean they could ever have a relationship? Probably not.
Yet another part of him knew he hadn’t felt like this about someone in a long time.
Still, Brynlee had lied to him. How would he get past that?
“You okay back there?” Luke called over his shoulder.
“Yeah.” Boone’s voice sounded just above a grumble.
“I can’t believe Brynlee is the one who wants to develop this mountain.”
His throat burned as he heard the words spoken aloud. “Can you believe it?”
“No, not really. Did you hear her out, though?”
Boone grunted. “What’s there to hear?”
“You should listen to her reasoning. You know people are complicated. She doesn’t seem like the type to just do something flippantly.”
“I’m not sure I’ll have the chance to hear her out.” The thought caused an ache to form in his chest. He didn’t want things to end like this between them.
No more tragic endings. His heart couldn’t handle any more.
Luke glanced back at him. “Let’s stay positive. We’re going to find her.”
Boone didn’t say anything. Staying positive hadn’t kept Kat with him. It hadn’t kept his dad alive. Hadn’t kept his mom at home.
“Remember when you opened your camping store?” Luke continued as they climbed up a rock formation, their path beginning a vertical trajectory.
“What about it?”
“You had about a dozen people who didn’t want you to do it. They didn’t want to see anything built on that stretch of road because it was their quiet fishing spot.”
Boone grunted again. Yeah, he remembered that clearly. “That was different.”
“Not really. You just have an emotional attachment to Dead Man’s Bluff.”
He wanted to deny his brother’s words, but he couldn’t. Dead Man’s Bluff had been special because it was his and Kat’s area. When she’d died . . . it had almost become like a memorial to her. To change it . . . well, it would alter his memories of his time with Kat.
He couldn’t lose that part of their relationship too . . . could he?
“Don’t throw away something that could be good just because of that emotional attachment,” Luke continued.
They paused by the cliff leading to Dead Man’s Bluff. Was his brother right? Was this fight stupid?
“Brynlee lied to me,” Boone finally said. No one could deny that. And lying was a terrible way to start a relationship. Could a bond really be forged on untruths?
“You would have never gotten to
know her if you’d known the truth,” Luke reminded him.
Boone let out a deep breath, tired of talking about this. “We need to get moving. There’s no time to waste.”
“I’m going to set up on the other side of the summit. I think we’ll make the best use of our time that way,” Luke said.
“Be careful.”
“You too.”
Boone began setting up his lines so he could scale this cliff. He hoped he found Brynlee soon.
Most of all, he hoped he found her alive.
45
“You don’t have to do this,” Brynlee said between clenched teeth.
The man behind her didn’t care. He shoved her, pushing her up the trail.
She knew exactly where they were going. Dead Man’s Bluff.
It was the only place that made sense. But she also knew it was the place he planned to kill her. What she wasn’t sure of was why.
“What did I ever do to you?” Brynlee asked. “Help me to understand.”
She still hadn’t seen the man’s face. He’d come back to the cabin in costume. She couldn’t make out any of his features.
That fact continued to unnerve her.
“You want to desecrate my mountain,” he growled.
“I don’t, though.”
“You want to develop it.”
“I was exploring that idea and trying to fulfill my father’s wishes. But I don’t want to do things the way you think. I have a better way.” Was she trying to reason with someone who was unreasonable?
“I doubt that. You should have never come here.” He shoved her again.
“What are you going to do with me?”
“I’m going to sacrifice you to this mountain.”
“The way you sacrificed those men?”
“They also tried to desecrate this mountain.”
“You’ve killed others throughout the years, haven’t you?”
“Only the ones who disrespect the area.”
“That’s not your job.”
“I’ve made it my job. No one else has volunteered.”
They reached the Razor Back. The moisture left Brynlee’s throat. How would she cross this without using her hands? They were still tied behind her back.
Margin of Error: Fog Lake Suspense, Book 2 Page 19