“I’m afraid I must insist,” he says, stepping closer. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “We have urgent matters to discuss.”
I back away, clutching my bag. “Any discussions should happen through the RCMP now.”
His smile vanishes. “The RCMP doesn’t understand the delicacy of our situation. But you do, don’t you? You’ve been at the center of this from the beginning.”
I glance around, hoping to catch someone’s eye, but the street is oddly empty for mid-morning. “I need to go.”
I turn to leave, but his hand clamps around my upper arm with surprising strength. “I don’t think so.”
“Let go of me,” I demand, trying to pull away.
“Get in the car, Ms. Mills.” His voice has changed, all pretense of civility gone. “Now.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I say, struggling against his grip.
His other hand emerges from his pocket holding something that makes my blood run cold—a small pistol, partially concealed but unmistakable. “I won’t ask again.”
Fear floods through me as I realize how badly I’ve miscalculated. I should have listened to Kori. I should have brought someone with me. I should have told Caleb where I was going.
“Fine,” I say, trying to buy time. “But people know where I am. They’ll come looking.”
“I’m counting on it,” he replies with chilling certainty.
He marches me to the SUV, keeping the gun hidden against my side where no casual observer would notice. The back door opens, and rough hands pull me inside. The last thing I seebefore a hood is yanked over my head is Hawthorne’s satisfied smile as he slides into the passenger seat.
“Drive,” he commands, and the vehicle lurches forward.
I try to keep track of our route—left turn out of town, then right onto what feels like a gravel road. The hood makes it impossible to see, but I focus on counting seconds, estimating distances. After what seems like twenty minutes, we stop.
Hands pull me from the vehicle. I stumble on uneven ground as they guide me forward. The sound of a door opening, then the echo of footsteps, tells me we’re inside a building. When they finally remove the hood, I blink in the dim light of what appears to be an old storage facility.
“Make yourself comfortable, Ms. Mills,” Hawthorne says, gesturing to a chair in the center of the room. “You’ll be our guest until this unfortunate situation is resolved.”
“This is kidnapping,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “You’re making things worse for yourself.”
“Worse?” He laughs, a sound with no humor in it. “My family built this town. We’ve owned it for generations. And now, because of you and your friends, everything we’ve built is threatened by the delusions of a man who’s been dead for a century.”
“They aren’t delusions if they’re true,” I counter, refusing to sit in the chair he’s indicated. “Thomas Wolf documented everything.”
“Documents that should have rotted away decades ago!” he snaps, his composure cracking. “My grandfather should have found them. My father should have destroyed them. But nowthey’ve fallen into the hands of federal authorities because you couldn’t leave well enough alone.”
I notice now that we’re not alone. Two men stand near the door—local police officers still loyal to Hawthorne, judging by their uniforms. They look uncomfortable but determined.
“So what’s your plan?” I ask, trying to keep him talking while I look for any possible escape route. “Hold me hostage until what? The RCMP drops its investigation? That’s not going to happen.”
“It will when they realize the consequences of continuing,” he says coldly. “Your boyfriend and his friends have until noon to deliver all the original documents and the gold to this location. If they comply, you go free. If not...” He leaves the threat hanging.
My mind races. Caleb must have discovered I’m missing by now. But does he know who took me? Where I am?
“They won’t trade historical evidence of murder for one person,” I say, hoping to shake his confidence.
“Won’t they?” Hawthorne smirks. “Brennen seems particularly attached to you. I think he’ll make the trade.”
A chill runs through me as I realize he’s been watching us more closely than we knew. “How will they even know what you want? Or where to find me?”
“They already know,” he replies, checking his watch. “I called them.”
Chapter 34
