The first snowflakes began to fall as he parked in the small gravel parking area and got out. Charlie climbed out of the cruiser and waited for him. She glanced up at the sky. “It’ll be dark soon. We’re running out of time.”
The desperation in her voice reminded him that there was a timeclock on Lila’s life.
“Let’s head over to the bridge.” He hoped there’d be some clue to identify where the killer might have taken Lila.
Ryan kept a close watch around the countryside knowing full well this could be a set up. He tucked Charlie to his left and away from the road. Across the highway, there were numerous places to hide.
They stepped up onto the wooden bridge. The frigid waters of Pine Haven River were fifty feet below. There was no sign anyone had been here recently. Snow dusted the wooden planks undisturbed.
“Nobody’s been here,” Charlie said in frustration. “Now what?”
Ryan glanced over the railing at the waters below. Something caught his attention. “What is that?” He pointed to the spot.
Charlie leaned over and looked before she grabbed his arm. “It’s another note.” She brushed past him.
Ryan scrambled to catch her. “Hold up. We need backup. This feels like a trap.”
She looked up at him. “It probably is. He’s playing with us. But Lila’s life is in danger. We have to do something.”
Ryan hit the radio and told Boone what they’d found.
“I’m on my way. Don’t go down there until I arrive.”
Ryan told him he copied. As soon as the transmission silenced, a sound pulled Ryan’s attention from Charlie.
Was that?
Before he had time to realize the truth, the crack of a gunshot forewarned what was coming. The shot slammed into his upper body sending him stumbling backwards.
As the darkness came, he realized someone was screaming.
Charlie. His Charlie.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Charlie screamed again and rushed to Ryan’s side. Blood oozed from the wound near his shoulder. How close to the heart? She couldn’t tell.
Tears blurred her vision as she tried to assess the damage by moving his jacket aside. They needed help. Now. She grabbed Ryan’s cell phone and prepared to call Boone when the crunch of a boot had her whirling. A figure dressed all in black with their face covered by a mask slammed something hard against her temple. The pain was excruciating. She landed next to Ryan. The world tilted and careened toward blackness. Her last coherent thought was to reach for Ryan’s hand.
Dragging her dead weight down the riverbank wasn’t easy but I had everything to lose, and I would finish this before I left town.
I heard her moan. “Be quiet.” After I’d knocked Charlie out, I blindfolded her then secured her hands and feet. She wasn’t going anywhere.
I smile as I lug her across the shallow end of the river. The cold water wakes her. She tries to scream but the gag makes it appear little more than a muffled sound.
“Shut up,” I yell when she tries to scream again.” The last thing I needed was for the sheriff to arrive before I reveal my grand finale.
No, this was a long time coming and I wasn’t about to be robbed of the moment I’d waited for.
She struggled as we headed up the other side of the bank and toward the caves where the truth lay hidden. Buried in the dust of time.
A smile plays across my lips when I imagine her surprise and then her fear when she realizes the last seconds of her life are coming to an end.
I pause for a breath and listen. Over my labored breaths there’s no sign Boone is on his way. But he’ll be here soon. I might have to take him out if he tries to stop what I have planned.
When I finally reach the first cave, I quickly cover my tracks before starting to the bowels of the mountain. The year I killed my first person stood out as the most satisfying moment of my life. I hadn’t woken up and suddenly thought I’d take a life. No, the decision had been forced upon me. She’d forced it by the cover up. I wouldn’t let his death go unanswered.
The cave where everything would be revealed was just as I’d planned it. I drop her legs. Her answers can wait. There’s one more thing to do.
