“We’ll see, won’t we?”
Corrine didn’t reply.
“Tell me one thing.”
“What?”
“Do you know anything about where he has Ava?”
“If I knew anything, I’d tell you. I’d have told the cops who were here earlier. The only thing I want is to have her back in my arms!”
That last part was the one thing he could believe. He hoped he was right to trust her. “If you think of anything else, tell someone. Don’t protect him.”
“I wouldn’t. Not after this.”
“Good.” Nick marched to the door but turned back to her before twisting the knob. “One more question.”
“What is it?” She’d never looked more defeated than that moment.
“Why didn’t you bring your son with you back here?”
“Would you have let our girls stay with me if I had?”
They both knew the answer to that. “Were you hoping we still stand a chance?”
She looked away. “Just go, Nick.”
“Where is Mason now?”
“I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
He slammed the door and marched over to her. “I’m not trying to annoy you. He’s a danger to our daughter. I have a right to know if he’s in the area.”
She shook her head. “Mason’s staying with his grandma. He had to switch schools after the show you made when you flew out there.”
Nick lowered himself to her level and stared her down. “Is he going to be a problem for Ava?”
“Ava has bigger problems right now, or have you forgotten?”
He resisted the urge to slap her across the face. “I’m talking about when she gets back. Is Mason going to be anywhere near our daughter?”
“No, and he’s horrified about feeling up his sister. We really should have told him sooner.”
“You think?” Nick glowered at her before heading back to the door. Once his hand was on the knob, he turned around. “Does Mason know anything about this whole mess?”
“He’s a teenager. The kid spends more time online than not.”
Nick clenched his jaw. “I mean about his father.”
Corrine shook her head. “He thinks he’s over here working things out with me.”
Fury ran through him. He needed to get out of the house before he said or did something he would surely regret.
Lead
Genevieve glanced back at her phone. Still nothing from Nick. Not that she should expect anything, given everything he was dealing with. She was being ridiculous thinking that returning her calls and texts would even remotely be a priority.
She turned back to the computer screen and continued going over the evidence file she’d been assigned for another case. With so many others helping, their department was able to focus on the local stuff.
It was almost time to go home once she filed the related paperwork. Then the phone on her desk rang.
Genevieve groaned. If she answered it, it would likely mean more work. If she didn’t, she could go home and collapse. After she picked up Tinsley at the neighbor’s apartment.
She yawned, just thinking about having to do anything other than sleeping. But she wasn’t the type of person to avoid the calls. No, she did what she was supposed to, because it was the right thing.
She answered, expecting one of the detectives dumping some of their work onto her. What she wasn’t expecting was the frantic voice on the other end of the line. She couldn’t even understand the man.
“Can you slow down, sir? I’m not sure what you’re saying.”
The guy on the other end took a deep breath. “I’m jogging in the woods down near the valley. You know the area?”
“By the winery?”
“Yeah, back that way. I saw two women. Well, actually one woman and one young girl. I think they’re those missing people from the middle school! They look just like them!”
Genevieve’s heart jumped into her throat. Why was he calling the local police number, rather than the hotline or nine-one-one? But this was her chance. What if she could be the one to find Nick’s daughter?
She shoved aside her selfish thoughts. “What did they look like? What were they wearing?”
He went on to describe long dark hair for both, a tank top for one, and a rock band t-shirt for the other. “I’m pretty sure neither had any shoes.”
Genevieve had to take a couple deep breaths to calm herself. It sounded like a solid lead. “Did you talk to them?”
“No, they ran the other way when they saw me.”
They must’ve been spooked. It made sense. “Can you see them now, sir?”
“No. They took off, like I said.”
“Okay. Stay where you are. Officers are heading over there.” She got his name and number, then ran over to Detective Anderson and explained everything.
His eyes widened, and he called out orders.
Genevieve cleared her throat. “I’d like to go, too.”
Anderson threw her a sideways glance.
“I can do this. Why do you think the captain goes with me so often?”
He opened his mouth, then shut it. “Okay. Go with Mackey. She knows that area well. Grant and I will be behind you.”
Genevieve nodded. “Thank you, Detective.”
A few minutes later, she and Mackey were on the road, lights flashing. Her heart always raced in times like this. She hoped the thrill never dulled.
Even with everyone moving out of their way, it seemed to take forever to get to the valley. Could those two people in the woods actually be Ava and Zoey? Had they gotten away from the gunman, or had he let them go to send a message?
“You talked to the caller?” Mackey asked.
“Yes.” She explained what the two women were wearing.
“Okay. There are a lot of paths in that part of the forest. Is Anderson sending the canines?”
“He didn’t say.”
“Call him and tell him the dogs need to at least be ready to go. This could turn into a full-scale search with so much ground to cover.”
“Okay.” She spoke with Anderson, who was already on it. “Everything is set.”
“Good.” Mackey pulled onto a dirt road that made a rollercoaster at the county fair feel like a smooth ride.
After some sharp turns, they came to an open field. The winery was down below in the distance. Mackey pulled next to an old green pickup.
A man waved to them from the edge of the trees.
“Must be our guy.” Mackey called in their arrival and a description of the man.
They hurried out to meet the guy in full workout gear. He took a deep breath and explained the path the women had taken.
“I know exactly where that is.” Mackey nodded. “Stay here. Others are right behind us.”
Genevieve and Mackey ran into the dark woods. The other officer darted around the maze-like paths like a pro. Before long, they came to a fork.
Mackey stopped and took a deep breath. “This is where it’s going to get tricky. If they went to the left, they’re going to come to the cliff leading down to the winery. It’s not impossible to get down, but it is dangerous. Especially without gear. The other way leads deep into the woods. Could be where they came from, and if that’s the case, I doubt they’d go there.”
“Should we split up?”
“Yeah, we’d better. Head toward the cliff, and if you find any clues, I’ll join you. I’m going to go this way and see if I can find anything indicating that’s the way they came. Whether we do or don’t find clues, we’ll meet back here.”
“Sounds good.”
Mackey darted down the path to the right. Genevieve watched as she disappeared. Her heart thundered. She hated the woods. People went there to do terrible things.
She shoved aside the memories that not even years of therapy could help her forget and started down the path. Her skin crawled as though someone was watching her.
It was ridiculous. Nobody was watchi
ng her. The people who’d hurt her were locked behind bars, and she had them to thank for her career choice.
She squeezed her gun, ready to shoot at a moment’s notice.
Twigs crunched underfoot and bushes rustled as she squeezed through the narrow path. It was impossible to stay quiet. If the women were out this way, they’d hear her coming a mile away. Anyone else would hear her, too.
Genevieve stopped and closed her eyes. Nobody else was out there. There were no monsters in the shape of a human waiting for her. She opened her eyes and continued down the path.
A few minutes later, light shone from the trail. She raced toward it, finding herself at the top of a steep cliff. Nobody was climbing down. As far as Genevieve could tell, nobody was anywhere nearby.
She pressed her back against a tree and glanced around, paying special attention to the shadows. Looking for anything out of place.
Nothing.
She drew a deep breath. It was time to head back. Maybe Mackey had found something.
Snap!
Her throat closed up. She had no idea where the breaking branch had come from. Given the trees and the cliff, sound carried differently.
It could be anywhere.
Why had she agreed to this? She hadn’t thought she’d be alone in the woods. But she should’ve known better.
Snap!
She needed to pull herself together. As an officer of the law, protecting citizens was her duty. If Ava and Zoey were out there, most likely terrified, they needed Genevieve at the top of her game. Not scared of monsters that weren’t there.
Holding her breath, she aimed the gun in front of her, ready to spin in any direction at a moment’s notice.
Snap!
Genevieve turned to the left. The noise had definitely come from there. Her pulse drummed in her ears, making it impossible to listen.
She stepped away from the tree and crept toward the direction of the sound. Her skin crawled. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
Why had she thought this was a good idea? She didn’t need to be the hero. Nick would either like her or not like her regardless of who found his daughter.
Snap!
Her trigger finger twitched, but she stopped herself from shooting.
“Who’s there?”
Silence.
Genevieve’s skin felt afire. Her mouth was dry.
She narrowed her eyes and studied the darkened path. The shadow of the trees made it feel like the middle of the night. What little light came from the cliff only gave everything an eerie glow.
Rustle, rustle.
It was closer. And definitely to the left.
Once again holding her breath, Genevieve crept toward the noise.
More rustling noises sounded in the same direction.
She pressed through some bushes and ducked under low-hanging branches. One caught in her ponytail. She stopped and yanked it, but it wouldn’t pull free.
Genevieve worked to untangle her tresses, but it was stuck. She’d have to deal with it later. She snapped the branch and pushed her way through the thick plants.
Rustle, rustle.
The noises were closer. This was the right direction.
She gripped her weapon tighter and pressed on as the rustling grew louder. They were hard to hear over her own nerves and moving aside the bushes and branches.
Genevieve came to a small clearing. It was barely big enough for a picnic blanket. And there were the two people matching the description given to him. All she could see was their long dark hair as they made out on the forest floor.
Relief flooded through her that nobody was after her, but then a new worry shot fear through her. What if the shooter was forcing Zoey and Ava to suck face while he hid, watching? Watching Genevieve, too?
She glanced around, not seeing anyone. Not that it offered her much comfort. He could be hiding anywhere.
“Stop! Police!”
The two women turned to her, eyes wide. Only it wasn’t two women. The “girl” with the rock band shirt was actually a guy with long hair. He was a teenager, and the woman, a teacher. Genevieve recognized her.
“On your feet!”
“How’d you find us?” asked the kid. “We were careful!”
Genevieve shoved the gun closer. “On your feet!”
They scrambled to stand.
She cuffed the teacher and read her the Miranda rights before ordering them back to the path.
Then she radioed Mackey. “I’ve got them, but they aren’t who we were looking for. I did catch a predator, though.”
Flee
Ava leaned against the dirt-caked wall and slid to the floor. “I’m still hungry.”
Zoey nodded. “So am I, but at least we had something. It’ll help us get back home.”
Ava nodded, but she didn’t speak her fears. She didn’t dare. Without shoes and with so little food in their stomachs, how far could they really go? This little cabin felt like it was in the middle of nowhere.
Plus she was so tired on top of being hungry still. Everything ached, especially her ankles. Even with the handcuffs off, they still hurt something fierce. They’d dug into her skin, leaving it raw and bleeding. Some of her flesh was barely hanging on.
Zoey dug through the fridge again, then the cabinets. They’d shared a half-eaten sandwich and a container of bologna. It had been nowhere near enough.
She turned to Ava. “You ready?”
Ava rubbed her tender ankle, but let go as soon as pain shot out. “How long do you think it’ll take to get back?”
Zoey frowned. “I have no idea. It took hours to get here in the car.”
Ava clenched her fists. “Can I go in there and beat the crap out of him?”
“I think we’d be better off getting out of here.”
“He’ll go free!”
Zoey shook her head. “We’ll tell the police about the cabin. He’s tied up.”
Ava shrugged. Their knots were nowhere near as tight as the ones Dave had used on them. He’d probably be able to get out before the cops could find the place.
“Come on.”
Ava shook her head no. Now that Dave was taken care of, why did she feel like giving up? Had she exhausted herself fighting against him? “I’m so tired.”
Zoey held out her hand to help her up. “I promise you, your parents will let you sleep all you want after this. We have to go now.”
Deep down, Ava knew she was right. Reluctantly, she took Zoey’s hand and rose to her feet.
“You can do this.” Zoey locked gazes with her. “You can.”
Ava thought about her friends and family. About Braylon, the quirky but adorable kid two doors down. She’d been afraid to tell him how she felt—even though nothing else scared her. If nothing else, she needed to get back and find out if he liked her back.
She turned her attention back to Zoey. “Let’s do this.”
“I saw a back door from that chair. We’ll try that.”
Ava nodded. Her heart pounded like a jackhammer. They crept over to it. A keg was pressed up against the door.
Dave hardly seemed like the kind of guy to have a kegger, but whatever. Between the two of them, they were able to move the heavy thing out of the way. The liquid inside sloshed around but didn’t make enough noise that Dave would hear it from the bedroom.
Zoey reached for the knob.
Ava held her breath, half-expecting the cabin to blow up when she touched it.
It didn’t.
She twisted, but it didn’t move. Zoey twisted the lock and tried again.
The knob turned.
Ava nearly peed her pants. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Zoey twisted the knob further and pulled.
The door opened. They were just feet from freedom.
Ava’s knees wobbled.
Zoey stepped outside, then waved Ava out.
She glanced back at the bedroom, expecting Dave to be standing there.
He wasn’t.
She bolted outside, running past Zoey. Her ankles throbbed, but not enough to slow her. Rocks and branches dug into her soles. Nothing had ever felt better.
They were free!
Zoey caught up. They ran for a few minutes before Ava’s bladder felt like it would explode.
“I need to stop.”
“Already?”
“I have to pee!”
“Now that you mention it, so do I. Let’s hurry.” She ducked behind a cluster of trees.
Ava stepped behind a thick shrub, dropped her pants, and squatted. Luckily, she’d worn leggings. Easy to come off.
Sweet relief. She’d never had to hold it so long. Ava closed her eyes.
Snap!
Her eyes flew open. “Z-Zoey?”
“No,” came the deep voice behind her.
Terror ripped through her and the stream of pee stopped.
“Don’t quit on my account. Surely, you just came out here to relieve yourself. You wouldn’t escape would you?”
“I… I…” Ava’s mind raced to find a way to flee.
“Well, finish what you were doing. May as well. You’re going to be inside for a long time, Ava.”
That was where he was wrong. She would die fighting before she’d set foot back in that cabin.
“I’m waiting.”
She needed to buy time. “I can’t go with you watching.”
“I’m not looking. I swear.”
As much as she hated it, she would have to pee in front of him. It was the only way she could come up with an escape plan.
“Are you done yet?” Dave asked.
“Just turn around.”
He laughed. “You must think I’m pretty stupid.”
“Fine.” She closed her eyes and pretended she was alone in a bathroom. The stream flowed again.
How was she supposed to get away with him so close and her pants around her knees?
The only thing that made any sense would be to jump up mid-pee and run, pulling her pants up as she went. She had to try.
She was almost done, so there wasn’t any time to waver.
Ava jumped up. Urine streamed down her leg and soaked into her pants. She ran, reaching for the waistband and pulled it up. Unfortunately, it also slowed her.
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