Текст книги "One Book in the Grave"

Автор книги: Kate Carlisle

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

Her hooded assailant continued lugging her toward a waiting car at the far end of the parking lot. Minka was not going quietly. She squirmed and screeched the whole way. But her captor was too big and strong and mean for Minka to fight off.

“Drop her,” I shouted, but I was too far away to do anything except watch as Minka’s attacker physically overpowered her, punching her in the stomach and tossing her into the car trunk.

The thug jumped into the driver’s seat and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

I dashed back to the restaurant door just as Derek and Gabriel and some of the men came running out.

Derek grabbed me. “Was that you screaming? What happened?”

“He’s taken Minka,” I cried.

“Minka?” Derek looked as stunned as I felt.

“This can’t be a coincidence,” I insisted. “It has to be connected to Emily’s disappearance. That guy was following us and Minka got in the way.”

“But what is Minka doing here?”

I shook my head, still flabbergasted. “I don’t know. She probably thinks I’m up here working on some special bookbinding project that should’ve been hers.”

“What about her assailant?” Gabriel asked. “Was it Solomon?”

“I couldn’t tell. He was tall and wore a ski mask or some kind of hood.”

Gabriel took off sprinting all the way to the far end of the lot, then ran back. “I know where they’re going,” he said, then darted over to his black BMW and started the engine. He backed out of the space and shouted, “Get in.”

I hopped into the passenger’s side. Derek opened the back door but stopped when someone called out his name.

Austin came running over “What’s the story, man?”

“We’re going after this goon,” Derek said, deadly serious as he morphed into full commander mode. “You lead the rest of the men to the Hollow. Follow the original plan, but I want you and your father to go after Bennie and Stefan. Solomon, too, if you can find him. Take Max with you. Be careful.”

Austin took his new role seriously, giving one grim nod. “Got it.”

“My phone’s on,” Derek said. “Keep me posted.”

“Likewise,” Austin said, and ran back to give instructions to the others.

Derek jumped into Gabriel’s car and we went racing after Minka’s kidnapper.

Chapter 25

“How do you know where they’re going?” I asked.

Gabriel whipped around another curve and I had to grip the grab handle above my door to keep from toppling over.

“Sorry, babe,” he said, grinning tightly. “I saw them turn up Isis Way.”

“So they’re headed for Charity Mountain,” I guessed.

“Bingo,” he said, then flashed a quick look at Derek in the rearview mirror. “I’ve driven up there. The road winds around for an hour, and once you’re on the other side of the hill, you’re overlooking the Hollow.”

“Interesting.” Derek leaned forward from the backseat. “Are there more survivalist types up in those hills?”

“Yes,” I said, looking over my shoulder. “They’re scattered all over that area, even though most of them live down in the canyon. The real estate is cheaper there.”

“Ah,” he said, then glanced at our driver. “Can you still see their car?”

“Yeah,” Gabriel said. “Every so often when they go around a curve. He’s got one taillight missing.”

Turning in my seat, I said, “I heard glass break while they were struggling. Maybe Minka kicked it out.”

“Good girl,” Gabriel said.

“It would be the one smart thing she’s ever done,” I admitted. “And she probably didn’t do it on purpose.”

“No, but she might’ve saved her own life,” Derek said. After a few seconds, he asked, “What’s on Charity Mountain?”

“There used to be a Catholic convent up there. The Sisters of Charity. Now it’s been turned into a winery, naturally.”

“Anything else up there?”

“Some homes,” I said. “It’s very isolated. Lots of nooks and crannies, dead ends. It’s where some of the local kids used to go to make out.”

“Make out? You mean snogging?” Derek sounded amused. “Do you know the area, darling?”

I slanted a look at him. “Well enough.”

Gabriel chuckled, then stepped on the gas as we rounded another curve.

Every minute or so, as we drove higher and deeper into the wooded hills, I could catch a glimpse of the car with the broken taillight. It had to be at least a half mile ahead of us. I marveled at the fact that, accidentally or not, Minka had managed to do the one thing that might save her life. The only unfortunate part was that I would be a member of the Minka LaBoeuf rescue party. Again. It wasn’t as if she would thank me for it.

A full minute passed as we climbed higher. Tree branches hung heavily over the road and the number of houses grew even more sparse. Around one turn, a dirt road led off to nowhere that I could see.

“Are they going to the winery?” Derek asked. He was leaning forward far enough that he could have been sitting next to me. “I’ve lost track of the single taillight.”

“I haven’t seen it for a few minutes,” Gabriel conceded. “It’s disappeared.”

“It’s got to be up ahead somewhere,” I said, staring into the woods in hopes of catching a glimpse of red brake light. “There’s only one road up to the winery and we’re on it.”

“What about the turnoff we passed?” Derek asked.

“It doesn’t go anywhere as far as I know,” Gabriel said, and glanced at me.

“Yeah. I think it’s another dead end.”

“Then they must be up ahead somewhere,” Derek said.

Gabriel slowed down and turned off the headlights. “I’ll wait for a minute until our vision acclimates to the dark.”

Derek sat back and opened the left-side window.

The air in the car instantly chilled and I shivered, but it was more in fear than anything else. With the headlights off, we seemed more isolated up here in the dark. But I reminded myself that I was with two fierce warriors, so I shook off my nervousness and concentrated instead on the passing landscape, looking for any kind of inlet or turnoff or light somewhere in that deep, rugged woodland. But it was difficult to see anything beyond the line of trees growing so thickly along the road.

Gabriel slowed down even more to allow us to better scrutinize the interior of the woods.

“There’s a dirt road,” Derek said. “Looks like a house light a few hundred yards in.”

“I thought I saw a light flicker,” I said, “but I didn’t see a road.”

“They’re too damn well hidden,” Gabriel muttered.

“We’ll find them,” Derek vowed.

And from the determined tone of his voice, I wouldn’t want to be the person standing in the way of his goal.

Another minute later, Gabriel said, “We’re getting close to the winery.”

“I’m not sure they’ll go onto the winery grounds,” I said, taking an educated guess. “The whole area is well lit, and there’s a family who lives on the property. I think they’ll pull off into the woods.”

“Yes, I agree,” Derek said. “This is survivalist territory. They’ve got to have a place up here. They wouldn’t come up this way otherwise.”

“We’re all agreed,” Gabriel said, peering into the woods as he took another curve. “And we’re clearly at a disadvantage, because they probably know every inch of this hill and these woods.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Derek said grimly. “Nothing’s changed. If they’re out there, we’ll track them down.”

He kept repeating that vow, as if he would make it so by simply saying it. And, frankly, knowing Derek, I wouldn’t have been the least surprised to find out he had that kind of power.

So I wasn’t about to speak aloud my real worry, that we might find and rescue only Minka and not Emily. I knew the Sisters of Charity wouldn’t be pleased with me thinking that way. It wasn’t my most charitable moment, but I couldn’t help it. So I kept my mouth shut and continued searching the woods.

Gabriel brought the car to an abrupt stop.

We all stared at the heavy chain that barred the entrance to the long, winding tarmac drive leading up to Charity Mountain Winery.

“That settles that possibility,” Gabriel muttered.

I sighed. Derek squeezed my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me. Bitterly, I looked at either side of the chain barrier. There was no room for a car to have gone up and around it and onto the property. So we really were at a standstill.

But not for long. In silence, Gabriel made a three-point turn around the dead end, then, keeping the headlights off, drove slowly back down the road.

With all the lights near the winery’s entrance, it took a minute for my eyes to readjust to the darkness. Gabriel stopped anywhere there was a break in the heavy growth of trees that might be wide enough to fit a car through.

Long minutes later, we rounded the curve and drove past the point where I’d seen the light flickering.

“Stop,” Derek said.

“Did you see something?” Gabriel asked.

“That light is still on in there,” Derek said. “And there’s just enough of an opening to squeeze through.”

Gabriel turned in his seat. “I’ll drop you off and find another inlet farther down the hill to hide the car, then double back on foot.”

The sound of Derek sliding the magazine into his gun made me jump. Then he murmured, “Turn off the interior light.”

“Got it.” Gabriel flicked a switch. “You’re good to go.”

“I’m going with you,” I said.

There was a pause. “You’ll do everything I tell you. No discussion.”

“Of course.”

I thought I heard him snort, but I could have been mistaken.

We both got out of the car and closed the doors as quietly as we could. Then Gabriel drove off. The moon and stars were blocked by clouds and the darkness was almost absolute.

I grabbed for Derek’s hand, then flinched when he whispered in my ear, “Stay behind me. Let’s go.”

We snuck through the line of trees and were instantly enveloped in woods. Leaves slapped at my face as we made our way toward the meager light a few hundred yards away.

Finally we reached the edge of a clearing and saw a small, rustic A-frame log house situated at the foot of a steep incline. The car with the broken taillight was nowhere in sight.

“Shall we?” Derek whispered, tugging at my hand.

“Shall we what?” I said in a hiss. What did he have in mind?

He didn’t hang back to chat about it, but edged closer to the house. Somehow, he barely made a sound, while my feet were like jackhammers as I trod over fallen leaves, twigs, and dried-out flower beds someone had once cared enough to plant.

Is he going to knock on the door? Well, why the hell not? We’d done stranger things, and maybe the A-frame owners had seen or heard something.

But Derek skirted the steps up to the front door and crept around the side, where he peered into a window, then walked on toward the back of the house. I was making too much noise so I waited for him on the side of the house, pressing myself against the wall to avoid being seen.

“Hhrrmmmmrup!”

I jolted nearly a foot! Then I stumbled back against the rough log exterior, scraping my back. It hurt, but I tried not to moan out loud since someone else out here was in worse shape than I was.

Derek dashed around and found me. “Was that you?”

“No. It sounded like someone trying to call for help.”

I scanned the woods before grasping the fact that the cry had come from inside the house. “Someone’s in there.”

Derek took the front steps in one hurtle and grabbed hold of the doorknob. I scurried after him.

“Locked,” he muttered.

“Now what?”

My question was answered as Derek stepped back a few feet, then kicked the door in. I grinned. I couldn’t help it. Even in this crazy, dangerous situation, I had to admit that Derek Stone was really something.

The door swung back and forth futilely and Derek pushed it out of the way; then we stepped cautiously inside the dimly lit front room. I looked around but didn’t see anyone. The furniture—a sofa and two chairs, various tables—was all neat and matching. The house was clean. I peeked into the kitchen. It was tidy, with a few dishes drying next to the sink. So someone had to be living here; they just didn’t appear to be around at the moment. Probably a good thing.

Derek crept toward a doorway leading to a short hall. I followed inches behind him. Peering down the shadowy hallway, I could make out four closed doors.

The first opened to a small bedroom. It was empty. So was the bathroom next to it. The third door was a closet so dark, I couldn’t see a thing inside it.

We made our way to the last door and opened it. The light on the nightstand was turned on, illuminating the room enough that I could see what I never expected to see.

In complete shock now, I could barely breathe. I clutched Derek’s arm and tried to swallow, but my throat was too dry. I could feel Derek’s arm muscles tense up, as well.

A man wearing only a pair of knit boxer shorts was lying in the middle of the bed. Splayed in four directions, his hands and feet were tied to the four bedposts of the fancy, queen-sized bed. He twisted and struggled to free himself, but to no avail. He could only grunt and moan because of the wide strip of duct tape covering his mouth. His eyes were wild with fear and desperation.

It was Solomon.

Chapter 26

Solomon?

“Good lord,” Derek murmured, and rushed over to the bedpost to free the pitiful man’s hands.

“Wait,” I said. Tossing my shoulder bag on the small chair by the window, I walked up to Solomon and stared into his eyes. It wasn’t fear I saw there. It was…defiance? He stared right back and I tried not to flinch. Even bound and gagged, the man had the ability to scare the heck out of me. I turned away.

“Derek, we need to talk in the other room.”

“Let’s get him untied first.”

“No. Talk first, please.” I walked out, down the hall, and into the front room.

He followed me and said quietly, “Brooklyn, that man needs to be released.”

“That man could be a monster,” I whispered so I wouldn’t be overheard. By whom? I had no idea, but I wasn’t taking chances. “This could be a trap.”

“Yes, it could be.” He glanced around and I could tell he’d already considered that possibility. “But we still can’t leave him here.”

I folded my arms tightly across my chest, not yet willing to agree. “Both he and Angelica have calculated every move from the very beginning.”

“That’s true, but he’s right where we want him now.” He took hold of my arms. “We’ll take every precaution. I’ll loosen his wrists from the bedposts, then bind his hands behind his back to transport him down the mountain.”

“Okay.” Maybe I was making too much of Solomon’s power, but I dreaded going back into that bedroom. I hated being in the same vicinity as the man. But more than that, I trusted Derek to take care of Solomon.

“Would you rather wait in the car?” Derek asked, squeezing my shoulder with concern.

“God, no. Well, maybe.” But the thought of traipsing back through the dark woods alone wasn’t appealing. And I knew that waiting by myself in the car would give me the creeps. “No. Let’s get this over with.”

We went back into the bedroom. I grabbed the end of the rope holding Solomon’s right foot to the lower post. The knots were intricate and it was slow going getting them loosened. Somebody knew their Boy Scout knots, for sure.

I glanced up, met Solomon’s cold gaze, and quickly looked away. I stared at the taut rope and got angry. How dared he intimidate me when he was laid out in this ridiculous position? I looked back at him, refusing to show alarm or acknowledge the shivers I got from merely looking at him.

Solomon made muffled sounds through the duct tape and I figured he wanted us to remove it so he could speak. But I didn’t want to hear his voice.

“The duct tape stays,” I said gruffly, trying to ignore his muted grumbling. We still hadn’t found Emily, and I wanted to blame Minka and Solomon for leading us off track. First, stupid Minka had stuck her big nose where it didn’t belong, and now we had to deal with rescuing Solomon, of all people. It wasn’t nice of me and I wasn’t proud of myself, but there it was.

I concentrated on undoing the intricate set of knots trapping the man’s ankles to the bedpost and wondered if this night would ever end.

Solomon continued to moan through the duct tape and I realized it was cruel to leave it on. What if he couldn’t breathe?

“Fine,” I said reluctantly. When Derek glanced up, I asked, “Will you take the duct tape off?”

I didn’t want to get too close to the man on the bed. And I didn’t want to hear what he had to say—unless, of course, he knew where Emily was. But since he was hog-tied, I was guessing he wouldn’t have any worthwhile information. This whole scene was all too grisly and weird.

Derek leaned over and grabbed hold of the tape, then warned Solomon, “This is going to hurt.”

Solomon nodded vigorously and Derek ripped it off.

Solomon screamed liked a banshee, although, to tell the truth, I’d never heard a banshee scream.

“Thank God you came for me,” he cried. “Oh, thank God. It was a nightmare. I couldn’t get away. I thought I was going to die. I—” He took a breath and held it. Silence.

Neither of us bothered to clue him in that we hadn’t come here for his sake.

I was thankful for the silence. Solomon in this grateful mood was jarring to me. I continued working with the rope. Someone had dampened it before tying, so it was even more difficult to get a grip on it. It was slow work and I was getting more and more anxious to leave before whoever tied up Solomon decided to return.

Solomon watched us both work to free him. I looked up and noticed he was frowning at me.

“What?” I said.

“I know you.”

I shook my head. “No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.” He peered at me; then one side of his mouth curved up. “I never forget a pretty face.”

I tried to mask my shock but I failed. “Seriously? You’re flirting with me? While you’re tied up like a turkey waiting to be roasted? You’re an idiot.” I started to walk out of the room.

“Wait! Come back!” he cried.

“Keep it down, old man,” Derek said sternly. “One more remark like that and I’ll gladly leave you here for your captor to deal with.”

“Oh, God, don’t!” he said, his voice raspy, his eyes wide and wheeling. “Don’t let her get me!”

Her? I met Derek’s gaze.

“Who’s going to get you?” I asked warily.

He had to take a few deep breaths to brace himself before he could whisper, “Nobody.”

“Too late,” I said, moving back to the bedpost and the ropes. “You’ve just admitted a woman did this to you.”

He clamped his lips together and his jaw worked rapidly.

“A woman tied you up and left you to rot,” I taunted. “Isn’t that interesting.”

“She’ll be back. It was just a little game we were playing.”

“Some game,” I said. “You were scared to death when we walked in.”

“Shut up and undo the damn ropes before I—”

In that moment, he lost his ability to frighten me. Sort of. “Are you actually threatening me, Solomon?”

“I knew it,” he said in triumph. “You know who I am. We have met, haven’t we?”

I shook my head. “No, we haven’t.”

“But you look so familiar. Did we ever—”

I recoiled at his suggestive tone, but before I could speak, Derek said in a low, menacing voice, “Enough.”

I blinked at the force of Derek’s anger, and a rush of emotion flooded through me. Gratitude, love, excitement, fear. Derek was rarely moved to anger, but when it happened, look out.

He glared down at Solomon. “Tell us what happened here and who did this to you. Start talking, or we’ll walk out and leave you here to rot.”

Solomon stared up at Derek. He seemed to measure the man’s words and intentions, then swallowed heavily. “A woman I know lured me up here, promising a night of pure fantasy. I was foolish enough to believe her. We had a glass of wine, and she was cooking something in a frying pan. It smelled fantastic and everything was going well. But then I turned away for a minute, and she knocked me out. I guess she used the frying pan. I don’t know, but I have a massive headache. Anyway, when I woke up, I was tied to the bed. She told me that if she couldn’t have me, no woman could.”

“Why would she say that?” I asked. “What did you do to her?”

“I didn’t do anything.” He speared me with a look of pure loathing, but I didn’t care. I just watched him, more curious than anything else. Finally, gritting his teeth, he continued. “She said I wasn’t grateful enough. She had done me a…a big favor, but I guess I didn’t show her enough appreciation.”

“What was the big favor?”

He bared his teeth, obviously resenting my questions. “Look, none of that matters. Just untie the ropes and get me the hell out of here.”

“Oh, because you’re so innocent?” I said. “Whatever she did to you, I know you deserve it all and then some.”

“I didn’t do anything,” he said irately. “She’s in love with me and completely obsessed. She’s a raving– I didn’t ask her to– Look, just let it go.”

I was starting to get a really bad feeling about this whole scene. “We’re not letting anything go, especially not you. The police are waiting down the mountain and you’re going straight to jail.”

“Me?” he said, outraged. “I’m the victim here.”

“You have never been a victim, Solomon.” I shook my head and looked away. I had feared the man and hated him for what he did to Max, but now I couldn’t be bothered to expend that much energy. Now I felt nothing but contempt for him.

But that reminded me of something. “Why did you hate Max Adams so much?”

The immediate change in Solomon was startling. He scowled bitterly. “Max Adams was nothing but a two-bit hack. I have more talent in my little toe than he had in his entire body. But Max had the Midas touch. He got everything he wanted delivered on a golden platter. Women by the dozens, acclaim, money. The institute got him a book contract. They sent him on lecture tours. When Angelica left me for him, I was furious.”

“You were obsessed.”

“So what?” he said on a snarl, then shook his fist. “Max Adams was a pissant. He was supposed to die.”

“He didn’t.”

“I know that now, damn it, but at least he was gone. I no longer had to compete with him for every little crumb the institute threw our way. I didn’t have to look at him.”

“But he’s still lingering. I’ve seen all those banners around the Art Institute campus.”

He shook his head in disgust. “He’s been gone three years and still they flock to see him and his work. It makes me sick.”

“And Angelica was spearheading it,” I added. “How did that make you feel?”

“I wanted to kill her, too,” he muttered, then looked at me. “But I didn’t.”

“And we’re supposed to believe that?”

“Believe whatever you want. I didn’t kill her.”

“Who killed her?” Derek asked.

Solomon turned and studied him for a moment. “Someone to whom I should’ve shown more gratitude.”

I stepped closer. “So you’re saying the woman who tied you to the bed also killed Angelica.”

He whipped around to look at me. “I’m not saying another word.”

“Fine. You can talk to the police.” I pulled the last of the knots loose and threw the rope on the floor. “Max Adams is alive, Solomon, and he’s going to have you charged with kidnapping and criminal harassment and attempted murder. You’re going to prison.”

He glared at me and muttered an expletive, then said, “Don’t hold your breath.”

Derek grabbed hold of Solomon’s arm and yanked him off the bed. “Stand up.”

Solomon wobbled but eventually gained his footing. Derek tossed his clothes at him and Solomon dressed hurriedly. Then Derek took hold of his wrist and spun him around. Using one of the ropes, he tied Solomon’s hands behind his back.

Solomon struggled, but was no match for Derek. “Is that really necessary?”

“Yeah, it really is,” I said.

“Let’s go,” Derek said.

I found my shoulder bag and stayed close to Derek as he led Solomon out of the bedroom. In the front room, Derek leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Gabriel should’ve been here by now.”

“Do you think something happened to him?” He knew how I worried about Gabriel, and given the strange things that had been happening lately, I was scared to death he might become the latest victim.

Derek pulled out his phone and checked it for text messages. “I don’t know. Let’s go find him.”

An hour later, we were back inside Savannah’s restaurant. The Sonoma sheriff’s deputy had come and gone after the San Francisco detectives claimed first dibs on questioning Solomon in connection to Joe Taylor’s murder.

I just about fainted in relief when, within ten minutes of the cops taking Solomon away, Gabriel showed up. He’d been investigating another mountain cabin farther down the road, but had turned up nothing.

Gabriel, Derek, and I met quickly in Savannah’s back room to figure out our next move. The other men were still out hunting for Minka and Emily. Derek thought we ought to return to the area around the secluded cabin where we had found Solomon, but Gabriel had somewhere else in mind. While they debated, I ran to the ladies’ room. Walking out of the bathroom, I noticed someone in the parking lot and had a momentary rush of déjà vu. But it wasn’t Minka.

“Brooklyn? Is that you?”

I peered through the screen door. “Melody?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” She shoved her hands in the pockets of her jacket. “I saw them take Solomon away.”

“Melody,” I said sympathetically, “I know Crystal likes Solomon, but I think he’s done some bad things.”

She smiled sadly. “He’s better than you think, Brooklyn. He’s done so much good for our church.”

I didn’t have the energy to argue with her. “I hope you’re right.”

“The Ogunites are setting up a defense fund for him, and Crystal and I will testify or do whatever it takes to exonerate him. He’s been so important to our church and it’s our honor and duty to serve him.”

I felt sorry for her so I pushed open the door and went outside. “Do you really believe that?”

“Well, yes, and I really like him, too. My sister loves him. She can’t help it.”

I couldn’t take any more about Crystal’s love for Solomon, and that really bad feeling I’d felt up in the cabin was sinking in again. But I had to be wrong. “I hope things work out, Melody. I’ve got to get back inside.”

“Brooklyn, thanks for listening.” All of a sudden she smiled. “Hey—we made some more fruit jewelry using your mother’s Fuji apples. They’re really pretty. You should come to the farmers’ market tomorrow.”

“I’ll try to come by. See you, Melody.” I turned to leave, but something sharp and painful slammed against my head and I went flying forward. And that’s the last thing I remembered.

I woke up in darkness, completely disoriented and with a blinding headache. I was covered up and lying on something cold and bumpy and moving so much that I kept sliding. After another few seconds, I realized I was on the floor of a truck or a van and someone was driving it around curves and up a hill.

Because of the tarp covering me, I couldn’t see who was driving. But I knew it had to be Melody.

So now what? I hadn’t even screamed to alert Derek and Gabriel, so I was on my own. Or was I? Maybe they had heard the screen door slam shut when I walked outside to talk to Melody. Maybe they were following us. I had to cling to that small possibility if I was going to survive with my wits intact.

Melody would arrive at her destination eventually, so I had to come up with a plan, fast. I maneuvered myself around under the tarp until I was facing the back doors of the van. Then I got up on my hands and knees. And waited.

I replayed my conversation with Crystal at the farmers’ market the other day. She had been gushing over Solomon, to the point where I was slightly revolted. But I never thought it meant she loved him in the worst way, which was what that scene in the cabin bedroom clearly suggested.

Crystal must have been the woman who lured Solomon to the cabin with promises of sex and God knows what else. Solomon had confessed that he hadn’t been grateful enough for some big favor she had done for him. Had Crystal killed Angelica as a favor to Solomon? As the van lumbered around another curve and I skidded across the cold steel flooring, I had my answer. It had to have been Crystal. With help from her sister, Melody?

Five minutes later, the van pulled to a stop and I heard the driver’s door open and slam shut. Seconds later, the back doors were flung open and I sprang forward. Directly into Crystal.

Crystal screamed and threw her hands up. I tackled her and we both fell hard onto the ground. I scrambled to my feet and took off running. But it was pitch-black and there were trees everywhere. We were in the thick woods near the top of a hill and the moon was behind a heavy cloud. I couldn’t see a thing, but I kept running, anyway, my hands out in front of me for protection. I bumped into a tree and careened around another one, but kept going. I wasn’t quick enough, though, and after another thirty feet or so, Crystal grabbed my jacket and yanked me backward and down to the ground.

“I’m really sorry, Brooklyn,” she said. “I hate to hurt you, but you need to stop running away.”

Strangely enough, she sounded sincere.

I had to shake my head to clear it. With one hand Crystal pulled me to my feet, and it took me a few steps to get my equilibrium back. That’s when I noticed the deadly-looking gun she held pointed at me.

“Crystal, why are you doing this?”

“I heard you through the window of the cabin and saw you take Solomon away. I followed your car down to the restaurant to see if I could help him, but the police were already there. So I sent Melody over to distract you.” The gun shook as she spoke and I knew she was nervous. I didn’t know if that was good or bad, but I knew Crystal wasn’t really a bad person. Not like Solomon or Angelica.

“Crystal, let’s talk about this. I can contact the police for you. Don’t get yourself in trouble by kidnapping me.”

“I have to think. Walk that way and let me think.” She nudged the gun in the direction she wanted me to go and I turned and started walking. I stumbled over a tree root but managed to right myself. Feeling achy now, I clutched my jacket closer to me—and remembered my pockets were full of Hershey’s Kisses. I pulled one out and dropped it on the ground, then repeated the same thing every fifty steps or so.

Crystal put the gun in her pocket and pulled me along as though she knew exactly where she was going, probably because she did. I couldn’t see a thing in this deep part of the woods, but Crystal seemed to know her way without the aid of moonlight. She was as good a survivalist as anyone in the Hollow.

I prayed Derek wasn’t too far behind. If he couldn’t follow the chocolate-kisses trail, he wasn’t the man I knew him to be. That thought kept me going as I tried to assimilate everything. “Did you kidnap Emily?”