Lila waved him in, then closed the door behind them.
The twins sat at the kitchen table.
“I hate her!” Violet slammed her fist on the table. “She’s been lying to us this whole time!”
“Maybe she hasn’t.” Scarlet frowned. “It could be her dad. She couldn’t do all that on her own. Think about it.”
“I have been!” Violet glared at her sister. “And I know it’s her. I’ve never hated anyone so much in my life! She’s been pretending to be our friend, but she’s a liar!”
Zion pulled out a chair. “What’s going on?”
Scarlet turned to him. “Dad figured out that the shed Atlas is in belongs to Brielle’s family. It’s at their cabin.”
“What?” Zion fell into the chair. “Is he sure?”
Both girls nodded furiously. Violet hit the table again. “He helped Tom build it! Said he’d know it anywhere.”
“And that’s why the police are out there.” Zion pulled on his hair.
Lila sat next to Violet and nodded. “Exactly.”
“Where’s the cabin? I need to get there.”
“The cops aren’t going to let us anywhere near there.” Lila frowned.
“Are they already headed there?” Zion asked.
“I don’t know. They wanted to question the Harrisons first.”
Zion leaped from the chair. “Then I’m going there now to free those boys!”
“Are you joking?” Lila looked at him like he was crazy. “You could get yourself killed. The police are trained to handle these situations. You’re a lawyer—you should know this.”
He clenched his fists. “I’m a father first. I’ll go to jail in a heartbeat if it means saving my son!”
Lila threw him a pleading look. “The cops are this close to heading out. They might have officers on it already. It’s not like they’re miles away. Stop and think.”
Zion shook his head. “Not this time. Too much on the line.”
“We don’t even know if Emmett is there. His videos don’t look like they’re taken in the shed.”
“He can’t be far!” Zion jumped up from the table. “I’m going.”
He bolted out the door only to find the entire street swarming with people and cop cars. His driveway was blocked.
Zion’s heart sank. How was he supposed to get to the cabin now? Not that he fully remembered how to get there. It’d been years since he’d driven Emmett out there, but he was sure he could find it again.
He marched over to the police cruiser that was half-blocking his driveway and fully blocking his car. Nobody was there.
Zion headed back over to the crowd in front of the Harrison’s house and weaved his way through until he found Rowena. He leaned close and whispered, “Morgan thinks Atlas is at the Harrison’s cabin.”
She turned to him, eyes wide. “What?”
“He recognized the shed.”
“We have to get there!”
Neighbors turned and stared.
“Over here.” He led her across the street to their yard, where they could speak privately. “We’re going to have to take your car.”
She glanced over at the partially-blocked driveway. “That’s fine, but how are we going to get around all these people?”
“I don’t really care. If they’re smart, they’ll get out of the way.”
“Zion! Rowena!” Lila waved at them from her yard.
“What do you think she wants?” Rowena waved back at Lila. “Should we go find out?”
Zion grumbled. “I just want to get to that cabin. If Atlas is there, Emmett won’t be far.”
Rowena frowned. “We actually don’t know that.”
“I’m sure of it.”
Lila continued waving them over.
“Well, I want to hear what she has to say, especially since they’re the ones who figured out about the cabin.”
“We’re wasting time.” But he went across the street with her, anyway. What if Lila did know something new?
“What’s going on?” Rowena asked.
Lila gasped for air, then led them over to her porch away from itching ears. “Morgan just texted me. He’s still over at the Harrison’s, talking with the police. They just discovered that Brielle isn’t there. She was supposed to be in bed, but it was just blankets made to look like her.”
Rowena covered her mouth, then leaned against Zion. “Is she behind the kidnapping? The videos?”
Lila hugged herself. “It’s beginning to look that way, though I can hardly believe it. Brielle.” She shuddered.
Zion’s blood boiled. “All of her concern was fake.”
Rowena wiped her eyes. “She seemed so worried. She’s the one who put on the vigil and made all those posters. Why would she do that?”
Zion clenched his jaw. “Because she knew right where they were. She knew nobody would be looking at her cabin. Probably figured her workaholic father would never go there and accidentally find them.”
“Are the police on their way over there?”
Lila frowned. “They’re working on the search warrant.”
“What?” Rowena exclaimed. “When two boys’ lives are on the line?”
Zion put his arm around her. “They still have to follow protocol. As much as this sucks, it’s the right thing to do. We wouldn’t want cops having full rein to burst down any door because of a suspicion. Aside from that, not following the rules, it could ruin the case when it goes to court.”
“Don’t go lawyer on me now.” Rowena shook against him. “I just want to find my boy!”
“You think I don’t?” Zion exclaimed. “I want to find both of them, and I also want to see the abductors go down. So we have to wait.”
“Yet we’re just standing around talking!”
Lila looked at Rowena. “Morgan said things are moving quickly. He said everyone wants to see Atlas and Emmett brought home as soon as possible. It shouldn’t be much longer.”
“I just want to hold my Emmett. It’s been so long!”
The two women embraced.
Someone’s phone rang. Lila pulled hers out and looked at the screen. “It’s a text from Morgan. The police are heading to the cabin.”
38
Brielle Harrison
* * *
“Where are you, Trevor?” Brielle paced the path between the cabin and the shed. She had parked deep in the woods and walked there, making sure nobody would find her car. They’d have to go far out of their way to find it.
She sent him yet another text. Had he chickened out and decided not to come? Was she going to have to do this all on her own? The whole reason she’d brought him into this in the first place was because she needed help.
Her phone rang. It was him.
“Where have you been?” Brielle answered. “Where are you now?”
“Relax.”
“Don’t tell me to relax! The cops are going to be here soon. We have to do something, and fast. Maybe I should just let them go, then run back home and pretend I don’t know anything.”
“I have a better idea, but I get the feeling you’re not going to like it.”
“If it means we won’t get caught, I’m up for anything.”
Silence rested between them before Trevor spoke. “I say we kill them, then hide the bodies.”
“What?” she exclaimed. “Are you crazy?”
“I said you wouldn’t like it.”
“Because I never wanted to hurt them! I said you went too far when we beat them. That was just supposed to be for show, you know.”
“I’m almost there, Bri. Go inside and see if your dad’s hunting rifles are locked up.”
She gasped. “You are crazy.”
“I’m logical. If the cops don’t find them, they can’t pin anything on us.”
Brielle tried to think of a way to talk him out of it. Anything. She couldn’t kill her two best friends! She’d never meant for things to get this out of hand.
“Are you still there?” Trevo
r asked.
“Yes.”
“Then listen to me. Go inside the cabin and check your dad’s guns.”
She struggled to breathe.
“We can do this, Bri. We have to.”
“No, we don’t.”
“My police scanner is going crazy. They’re working on a search warrant—for the cabin! We don’t have another choice. Promise me you’ll look at your dad’s guns.”
Everything spun around her. “The police… they’re headed here?”
“As soon as they get that piece of paper signed by a judge.”
A foreign sound escaped from her throat.
“Bri, I need you to do this. Can you go inside and check the guns?”
She swallowed. “Okay.”
“Good. I’m not far away, but I’m going to park out of the way, like usual. I won’t be long. Are you going to be all right?”
“Yeah.” But she shook her head, because there was no way she would ever be okay after this. There had to be a way to save Atlas and Emmett while still ensuring her freedom.
She had never meant for things to get this out of hand. All she had ever wanted was for Morgan to admit what he’d done and at least apologize for it. Maybe quit his job or go to jail if that was possible. He needed to pay for what he’d done, and dealing with his son’s disappearance at least guaranteed emotional distress.
“I’ll see you in a few.” Trevor’s voice brought her back to the present. “You’ll have the guns by then, right?”
“Right.”
The call ended, and she stared at the screen for a few moments before heading for the cabin.
There had to be another way. There just had to be. She couldn’t kill Emmett and Atlas.
Brielle’s heart thundered, threatening to explode out of her chest. Her hands shook as she attempted to unlock the door. It took three tries.
Tears blurred her vision as she entered the dark building. She started to turn on the lights, but stopped herself. There couldn’t be lights on when the cops arrived. Couldn’t be any proof of her being there.
She used her phone as a flashlight and made her way to Dad’s room. His hunting collection decorated one wall. A few prized guns hung there, but the rest were locked away. Had been for as long as she could remember, but it was kind of pointless now that she and Topaz both knew how to handle the weapons safely and also knew the combination to get in the cabinet.
But Trevor didn’t know that.
Brielle could claim ignorance. She wiped tears from her eyes as she stared at the collection.
Maybe what she needed to do was to free Emmett and Atlas before Trevor got back.
She glanced at the time, not that she knew how much she had. Either way, she needed to hurry. Not only was Trevor on his way, but so were the cops. The judge would probably sign the order in a heartbeat.
Tears fell uncontrollably as she stumbled to her room and put back on her thick, dark coat and the face mask. That was when she realized she was still wearing plaid pajama pants. Ones that her friends would recognize as hers.
She raced over to the drawers and changed into dark pants, losing valuable time. Every second lost brought her closer to being arrested—or worse, Trevor arriving and killing Atlas or Emmett.
Brielle’s phone buzzed in her pocket, but she ignored it. She raced to the kitchen and down the stairs to the basement.
Thud, thud, thud.
Her heart stopped. Emmett was awake and moving around.
That was a good thing. He’d be able to make a run for it.
But he might also attack her once seeing she was alone.
She swore, then ran back to her dad’s room and grabbed one of his prize rifles. Not to use, but to ensure Emmett wouldn’t try to attack her. Then she made her way back downstairs and pulled out the key to the storage room.
Thud, thud, thunk.
Brielle drew in a deep breath before unlocking the door. Her heart beat so heavily, she thought it would give out.
Maybe that was what she deserved. If she could go back in time, she’d have never done any of this. She blinked back tears before yanking the door open.
Emmett turned to her, his eyes wide with terror.
Brielle wanted to tear off her mask and beg for his forgiveness. But there was no time. Not with the cops coming soon and Trevor on the way, hellbent on killing Emmett and Atlas.
She aimed the rifle at Emmett and spoke in a deep voice with a French accent. “Follow me.”
“What?”
Brielle shoved the gun toward him. “No questions. Follow me.”
Like a wounded dog, Emmett did as he was told. He limped up the stairs.
To keep up the facade, Brielle dug the muzzle into his back every so often.
“You going to kill me now?” Emmett asked.
“Just walk.” She blinked back tears. Once up the stairs, she guided him to the back door and opened it. “Run.”
He turned to her. “What?”
“Get out!” She shoved the muzzle at him. “Before I shoot!”
Emmett gave her a double-take but then bolted outside, heading for the deepest part of the woods. If he kept going in that direction, he’d end up in another town. Safe and alive. Hopefully with no idea where he’d been the last few days.
Now it was time to save Atlas. If he was even conscious after Trevor’s over-the-top beating.
After Emmett was out of sight, Brielle closed the door and headed for the front room.
Trevor stood in the doorway, wearing his dark coat and ski mask.
Brielle gasped.
“Good, you’ve got a gun. Is it loaded?”
“Yeah,” she lied.
“Good.” He looked around. “Who do we kill first? Atlas or Emmett?”
Brielle’s stomach lurched. “Emmett.”
“Sounds good. Save the best for last.” Trevor pushed past her, heading for the kitchen.
The gun shook in her hands as she followed him. He would be pissed once he realized she’d let Emmett go. She needed to free Atlas before he figured it out.
“Wait.”
He spun around. “What?”
“How are we going to hide the bodies?”
“Throw ’em in the woods.”
“Have you heard of cadaver dogs?”
Trevor grunted. “We can bury them or burn them before the police come with those. Right now we need to get rid of them!”
“I have an idea.”
He glared at her. “We don’t have time for this.”
“Hear me out.”
“Hurry up.”
She took a deep breath. “Go out into the woods and dig a hole. Then I’ll force them out there with the gun, then we can, uh, take care of them.”
Trevor shook his head. “By the time we get through all of that, the cops will be here and they’ll hear the gunshots. We need to do this now.”
“Okay.” She gave him the key for the storage room downstairs. “Deal with Emmett. I’ll be right there.”
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“To get another gun. I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”
“Ugh. Hurry up.”
“Believe me, I will.”
He stomped to the kitchen.
Brielle watched to make sure he started down the stairs.
She bolted out the front door and to the shed.
Her hands shook, making it hard to unlock the door. The keys jingled, seeming to echo around her like a beacon, pointing everyone right to her.
Finally, she got the key in. Her hands wobbled even more, but she managed to turn the first lock.
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Brielle fumbled with the next lock. The final one.
The sirens grew louder. Closer.
Footsteps.
“What did you do?” Trevor shouted.
She turned around slowly. “What do you mean?”
“You let Emmett go?”
Brielle turned the gun toward him. “I’m not k
illing my friends! And I’m not letting you do it, either!”
“Then I’m out. Have fun explaining this to the cops.” He yanked the gun out of her hand and ran.
She jumped for him and knocked him to the ground. Her dad’s prized rifle flew across the dirt. “We’re in this together.”
He shoved her off and jumped to his feet. “That’s where you’re wrong! This isn’t my family’s cabin. Not my friends captive. I’ve made sure not to leave a single fingerprint. This is all on you!” He spun around and ran.
“Trevor!”
He didn’t stop.
Gravel crunched and the sirens grew louder as the cops approached. Colorful lights bounced off the trees.
She fumbled with the key, turning it as hard as she could.
It snapped, breaking in her hand. Half of it remained in the keyhole.
There was no way to get Atlas out.
“I’m so sorry, Atlas.”
She ran into the woods.
39
Dr. Morgan James
* * *
“Hurry,” Lila urged.
“I can’t go any faster.” Morgan squeezed the steering wheel, making his wound hurt. He probably should’ve let her drive, but with Atlas being within reach, he had insisted.
“They’re out of sight now.” She pressed her forehead against the passenger window.
“I know how to get to the cabin. And besides, this bumpy road only goes there.” A tire dipped into a hole, bouncing them, as if to prove his point.
“Ow.” She rubbed her forehead. “You’ve been staying too far behind them this whole time.”
“At least by staying out of sight, nobody’s going to tell us to go back home—because I’m not! Atlas is there, and we’re going to be there once he’s released.”
She sniffled. “I hope he’s okay.”
“He is.”
“How do you know that?”
Morgan didn’t respond. The car bounced again as they went over another giant hole.
Finally, the cabin came into view.
“Where’s the shed?” Lila asked.
“Just around the corner.” Morgan parked behind a row of trees, where nobody should notice the car.
They got out and took in the scene. Uniformed officers swarmed the property. Red and blue lights bounced off the cabin, trees, and people. The air was thick with anticipation.
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