Page 137 of Coordinates of Death

Jade brought out a ring of keys and opened the lock before sliding the dead bolt, pulling on the door. “Get inside. You’re just in time for supper.”

He hesitated, studying Aurora’s face.

Her normal fun-loving expression had been replaced with a look of panic in her beautiful eyes. He didn’t blame her. Their predicament didn’t bode well for an escape.

However, she didn’t know that their teams were nearby, ready for action. He had to tell her the plan somehow.

“Stop stalling.” Dale shoved him through the entrance.

Kordell stumbled and collided with Aurora. He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’ve got you.”

Dale backed out of the room, slamming the door shut and sliding the lock in place. “This is the only door in your cell. There are no secret passageways here.”

Jade waggled her finger through the bars. “You can share your last supper. Cooking meals for the victims and washing their hair was my idea, pretending to give them hope, but it’s time for this game to end. Eat up while I finish your special boxes.”

Kordell noted an orange on the supper tray, reminding him of the citrus scent he had smelled frequently. “I’m curious. What’s up with the oranges?”

“Our favorite fruit. Reminds us of Mama.” Dale’s expression softened momentarily before his eyes narrowed. “Except she never allowed them in the house.”

Aurora edged in front of Kordell. “By she, do you mean the stepmother you killed?”

“Yes. She paid the ultimate price.” He turned to his sister. “Right, my love?”

“Sure did.” The twins ambled away.

Jade’s laughter trilled from the dark corridor, the sound grating like nails on a chalkboard as it followed her down the hallway.

Leaving them in deadly silence.

Aurora shuddered not from the dampness in their dungeon cell but from the pure evil radiating from the twins, each feeding off the other. “I can’t believe they fooled us all, even the community.”

“You weren’t aware that they were related?” Kord said.

“No. Dale came to the station for meetings with Hill and Wheeler regularly, but I never saw him talking to Jade—” A conversation came to her mind. “It must have been them I overheard a few days ago talking about me. Their voices were low and raspy, so I didn’t connect the dots. Then my dad’s call interrupted me, and I had to back away from the door.”

“From what Mic told me, I’m guessing Jade took her mother’s maiden name Kramer, probably to hide their connection.”

“Yes, she told me her name is Jade Fiona Kramer Bryant. They shared that even though Dale murdered the women, Jade was complicit in the killings, manipulating him into the deed.” She explained everything the twins had confessed.

Kordell whistled. “Wow. No wonder they’ve always been one step ahead of us. They play off each other.”

“From what I can tell, Dale didn’t even realize his sister was manipulative.” She inched closer. “They’re probably listening.”

He dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

Aurora rubbed the goose egg. “Knocked me over the head, but other than a throbbing headache, I’m okay.”

“Let’s sit so I can check you.” Kordell cupped his hand on her elbow, guiding her to the concrete slab. After a cursory check of her vitals, Kordell leaned back. “You’re good. Wish I had some pain meds with me, though.”

“It will subside.” She took his hand, intertwining her fingers in his. “Before they come back, I have to tell you something.” She looked down. “I wanted to earlier, but Jade snatched me, and I woke up here in the middle of the night. I’m sorry for my harsh words to you after you confessed about the Roches forcing you to watch. I understand why you couldn’t say anything and why you ran away.” A tear slipped down her cheek.

Kordell tipped her chin up with his free hand, rubbing away the tear. “I get it. It was a shock. I hated keeping it a secret, and when I saw you leaning on your cruiser, I knew I had to confess. SBK just forced my hand.”

Aurora bit her lip, gathering her words. “I need to tell you something else. Something no one knows. Not even my dad.”

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“Yes, I do. Bearing the responsibility for my sister’s death took its toll on me. I watched my mother spiral out of control, and I followed—a little each day. My personality changed into someone I didn’t like. I lost all my friends.” She hesitated.