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The only sounds now were the soft snapping of twigs, a lone bird trill. She leaned back against the carved tree and stared at something far away.
“Nicole?” I didn’t care that I was pressing. Seeing her again was a gift, one I’d never get with Clem or Laurel. This time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake. I wouldn’t set foot off this island without her.
Far off in the distance, I heard a whistle.
Her eyes jumped to mine. “You were right. He’s not going to let me go.”
I inched closer. “To the Hilltop?”
A branch cracked.
Her chest rose and fell. “I asked him last night when he thought I’d earn it. It’s a fair question. Most daughters want to ascend, to be with the Philosopher. It’s the whole point of our journey. But it made him angry. He says he won’t release me.” Her voice dropped. “So you can go ahead and say it.”
I shook my head.
She smiled, achingly sad. “Always the nice girl.”
“We can start running,” I said. “We can find a dock and hide on someone’s boat, or in the forest, and when they’ve gone back to the lodge, we can run to the town right off the island. My friend’s waiting there.”
She cleared her throat. “Adam knows this island like the back of his hand. And there are too many of them. Running now’s too risky.” She met my eyes. “But I will do it. I’ll take your advice and leave while I still can.”
Nicole would be saved. She wouldn’t die like Laurel and Clem, disappear like all the missing women. I threw my arms around her, hugging so tight the tree bark bit into my arms.
She pulled back. “Adam’s wife and kids come back from their grandparents’ in two days. He always spends the first night with them. We’ll go then.” She brushed a strand of my dark hair from her face and smiled. “I even have some money.”
I shook my head. “Don’t worry about that.”
“Two days, okay?” She gripped my shoulders. “Just tell me where to meet you.”
“In Yonkers,” I said automatically. “The Motel 6.” And then I couldn’t help it. It was too absurd, or I was too relieved. I laughed again.
Her mouth cracked into a smile. “I’m risking my life, and you couldn’t spring for a Hyatt?”
“Come on.” I tugged her from the tree, gripping her hand. “Fuck Dorsey.”
Nicole grinned. Together, we stepped out from behind the X-marked tree—and found the Chief, standing silent and still. Flanking him were the Lieutenant, the Disciple, and the Marquis.
“Surprise,” he said softly.
“Adam.” Nicole couldn’t shield her shock. “We were just—”
The Chief’s eyes swung in my direction, and he gave a start. “What areyoudoing here?”
“You know her?” The Lieutenant frowned. The other two men behind Dorsey circled tighter, leaving Nicole and me nowhere to go. They’d caught us. I had a knife hidden inside my bra, but there were four of them. It wouldn’t be enough.
Dorsey studied me, eyes lingering on my lips. If I hadn’t been frozen with terror, I would have flinched. “She came into the station asking questions about Laurel Hargrove weeks ago. Said they used to be friends.”
“Laurel Hargrove?” The Marquis turned to the Lieutenant, his chest puffing. “Don’t tell me you let in a reporter.”
Nicole turned to me, and for a second, I saw her surprise and betrayal. But then it was gone, her face smoothed into a conciliatory mask. “Adam.” Her tone was low and calming. “I don’t know what you think you heard—”
Dorsey’s face shone with sweat. “You’re planning to leave me.”
“No—”
“After everything I’ve done for you—you piece of trash—you were going to run away.”
She took a step back. “You were going to keep me from the Hilltop.”
