Page 71 of Unburied

Those eyes turned hard and cold as he studied her. “What are you doing in the yard, Virginia?”

She hesitated, and a frown marred his handsome face. “I really hoped I wouldn't have to do this.”

Before she could process his words, Harrison lifted a black pistol he'd pulled from his waistband and aimed it at her face.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-EIGHT

Mason kept digging until the spade pulled up something odd-looking. He set the shovel aside and used his fingers to brush off the soil clinging to the object. No more than an inch or so in diameter, long and curved, he suspected what he was holding was a rib bone.

Something was still bothering him. The timeline didn't quite jibe. From what Vivi said, the lilies in the backyard hadn't been planted until after Russ's disappearance. George had said he was under the impression that Russ and Ellen were living together up until the day he left. According to Harrison, though, their relationship had been under serious strain for months prior to the divorce.

Had they truly been separated? And if so, where had he been staying? There were no other residences in his name, not even a rental agreement, and Mason seriously doubted he would spend money to stay in a hotel, especially for an extended period of time like that. Of course, Harrison was only the lawyer who had offered counsel for the divorce. Maybe Ellen had told him one version of events, while Russ had told George another.

Suddenly, Mason froze as Tyler’s last message popped into his head. Tyler had wanted to look at the divorce papers. Harrison had finalized the divorce. But that didn't mean Russ had actually come into the office. The signature on the papers could be a forgery. Maybe Elijah really was innocent. Maybe it was someone else—like the attorney who’d taken care of Russ and Ellen’s divorce. And the trust paperwork for Tyler.

Harrison had connections to everyone. Mason hadn't questioned it at the time, but now Harrison's parting words came back to him. Tell Vivi I said hello. How had Harrison known about Mason and Vivi? Had she told him? From what Mason understood, she hadn't talked to him since around the same time Ellen had been moved into the assisted living facility. And that had been more than a full week before they were officially together.

A chill moved through Mason's body. He whipped out his phone and shot off a quick text to Knox.

Pull everything you can on Harrison Grant. Has connections to all the victims.

“Viv,” he called toward the house. “I think I've got something.”

“That's unfortunate,” came a deep, masculine voice.

Mason snapped his head toward the house, and his blood boiled with fury when he saw the man outlined in the doorway, Vivi in front of him, a pistol pointed at her head. Allowing the bone to slip from his fingers, he relaxed his posture and met the man's gaze. “What are you doing, Grant?”

“What I have to do.” The man's gaze filled with belligerence. “As soon as Elijah told me you’d found her diary, I knew I had to do something. All you had to do was stop poking around where you didn't belong. I warned you, both of you!”

Mason's phone was still in his hand, and he held down the side button for several seconds. He didn’t dare look at it as he continued to speak to Harrison. “Vivi has nothing to do with this. Just let her go and⁠—”

Harrison laughed, but it held no humor. “She has everything to do with this.”

Mason's phone let out a soft ding, and every muscle in his body went rigid as Harrison’s gaze dropped to where it rested next to his leg. He didn’t dare let go of that button, praying fervently that it would function as intended and summon the authorities.

“Put the phone down and get in the house,” Harrison ordered.

Mason held on as long as he could, taking a couple of steps toward them.

“Drop it!” he yelled.

Anxiety and adrenaline rushed through Mason's veins as he dropped the phone to the grass at his feet and slowly held up his hands in front of him.

“Good. Get in.” Harrison fell back a few steps, pulling Vivi deeper into the house with him, ensuring Mason would follow.

Mason needed to get the upper hand, but he couldn't bear for Vivi to get caught in the crossfire. He needed to find a way to get her away from him so he could disarm him. He kept his eyes locked on Harrison as he crossed the backyard, then mounted the porch and stepped into the house. Harrison kept one arm locked around Vivi’s neck as he continued to move backward, maintaining a fair amount of distance between them.

As soon as Mason was fully inside the house, Harrison redirected the pistol from Vivi to him. The way he held it, hand shaking slightly, told Mason he wasn't proficient with firearms. But anyone could get lucky once, and Mason was going to make sure that both he and Vivi stayed safe.

“Why did you do it?” Mason asked.

“No questions,” Harrison ordered. “Get in the bedroom.”

Mason wasn't an expert in dealing with hostage situations, but he knew the more they followed his directions, if they allowed him to take charge of the situation, the less likely they would be to walk out of there alive. “Let's all just calm down for a second⁠—”

“No!” The gun wavered in Harrison's hand before he yanked it back then pressed it to Vivi's temple again. “Do what I say or I swear to God, I'll kill her right here.”