Matt found the electrical panel and cut the power. The low hum vanished, leaving only silence—and the creaks of a century-old farmhouse settling in its bones.
They were isolated. Woods on three sides, farmland to the east. No other houses in sight, just the distant silhouette of the old cannery barely visible across the field he and Kara had crossed earlier.
He decided then that he didn’t want to stay here. Even with the cameras off, Matt didn’t trust Garrett or his partner. They were too smart, too deliberate. They had set up the factory and the house as a series of traps, and Matt was certain they hadn’t caught them all.
They’d grab supplies, only what the four of them could carry, and hike into the woods. It wasn’t cold at night—they wouldn’t freeze—and he’d keep within sight of the house, in case rescue showed up.
IfRyder got the message.
He circled again, eyes scanning the foundation of the house. Basement windows. A heavy cellar door down a half flight of slick, mud-caked stairs. Water had pooled outside it, thick and foul-smelling—like chemicals and sewage. Flood damage? Or was the septic system ruptured?
The sunlight glinted off something in the mud. Glass?
He squatted, inspected the flash. It was a ring. He picked it up, turned it around in his fingers. A diamond wedding ring, caked in mud. He wiped it off and it looked familiar... then it hit him.
He’d seen this ring in photos of Emily Henderson’s wedding. The ring hadn’t been found on her body, and they’d consideredit was either lost during her ordeal, or the killer kept it as a souvenir.
Emily Henderson had been in this house. He opened the cellar door. It creaked as he pulled, but wasn’t locked. On the inside of the door he saw matted blond hair stuck into the rough boards, as if ripped out by the roots because the long strands had been caught on something.
Emily had been here. Had letting her escape been part of the game? To think she’d been saved only to force her into a more deadly trap?
He went back inside the house and announced to the group, “We can’t stay here.” His voice was low and firm. He caught Kara’s eye, and she nodded. She was with him, even though she hadn’t seen what he’d seen.
“Is she coming back?” Nathan asked.
“That, I don’t know, but it’s a risk, and I don’t want to be trapped in here. Plus, Garrett and his partner set traps all over the abandoned factory, and I fear we’re missing something here. I suspect at least one of the other victims was kept here.”
Lily sucked in her breath, eyes wide.
Matt said, “We’ll hike into the woods. If my team got the message, someone should be here within an hour, and we’ll see them long before they reach the house. If they didn’t get the message, we’ll head out at dusk and find help.”
“Okay,” Kara said. When Lily hesitated, Kara told her, “It’s the smart play here. If that woman checks the cameras and sees they’re out, we don’t know what she might do.”
“Leave your phone here,” Matt said. “She might be able to track it. If no one comes in an hour, I’ll risk calling my team directly. She’ll know on her end, but we need to make contact.”
“You’re right,” Lily agreed and put her phone on the couch.
“I’ll get the water,” Nathan said and went to the kitchen.
“I refilled bottles and put them in the refrigerator,” Lily called after him. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “Nathan knows what’sgoing on. He’s nearly twelve, observant, but I didn’t want to scare him.”
“He’s a strong, smart young man,” Matt said. “You should be proud of him.”
Lily blinked back tears. “Thank you. I’ll help him. And get some food, too.”
She followed her son. Matt turned to Kara, touched her. He needed to touch her to make sure she was okay. “I found Emily Henderson’s wedding ring outside in the mud, near the cellar doors that lead to the basement.”
“That cage,” Kara said, disgusted. “What game were they playing?”
“The Hendersons were the first. Maybe they didn’t have the factory set up yet.”
She sighed, leaned into him. “You’ve been a rock.”
“So have you.”
She shook her head. “Last night I was a mess.”
“You didn’t act like it.”
