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“The meetup is at a place called Longneck Creek,” Derrick said. “Do you know it?”
“I think so.” Ellie accessed a topographical map on her phone. “There it is. It’s in a remote stretch that once housed warehouses for trucking supplies. Those warehouses have been torn down and now it looks like acres of undeveloped farmland.” She consulted her GPS and directed him as he maneuvered onto the country road that led into the hills. The sleet intensified, adding to the hazardous conditions with strong wind gusts hurling branches across the road, rattling the car and pushing it sideways.
“This group either figured out who we were,” Ellie said, “or they’re con artists working both sides.”
“That’s what I figured too,” Derrick replied.
The road veered around a steep incline then wound downhill to a flatter area with a thin creek running through the land. It looked as if they were in the middle of nowhere.
“This is off-the-grid,” Ellie said. “There’s no way these people are living out here, not unless they have a house hidden in the hills.”
“If anything, it’s a drop spot,” Derrick said. “Or—”
“A trap,” Ellie said, finishing his sentence.
“Most likely,” Derrick agreed. “Right before I picked you up, Bennett called. He traced MCW’s headquarters to a house in the Atlanta suburbs.”
“Close to the airport, bus and train stations,” Ellie said with a grimace.
Derrick parked beneath a cluster of thin pines, his gaze scanning the area, while Ellie surveyed the property with her binoculars. “Look—there’s a dirt road leading into the woods.”
Derrick started the engine again and drove onto the narrow dirt drive. Giant oaks and hemlocks surrounded them on all sides, the limbs low and closing in on them. Icy rain slashed the windshield, wet leaves clinging to it as he parked.
They pulled on ski hats and coats then climbed out, guns concealed and ready as they hiked into the woods. Afternoon shadows filtered through the rows of trees, the gray skies threatening even worse weather. Icy sludge crunched beneath Ellie’s boots as she trekked around one fork and then another.
A vulture circled in the distance, and she ducked her head as the rain and sleet dripped off her hood. Maneuvering the cut-throughs and rocky terrain slowed them, but finally they reached the crest where the road ended at a cabin. She spotted the white utility van that had been at Bear Mountain. A black Cadillac sat next to it.
Ellie motioned to Derrick in confirmation, and they crept forward, weaving along the edge of the road and staying low until they were near enough to see that the car was empty. She inched up to the van and peeked through the windows. Van was empty, too.
But a light was burning inside the log cabin ahead.
Was Ava in there?
Ninety-Six
Somewhere on the AT
The sleet sounded like baseballs slamming against the tin roof of the house as she rushed back inside. She was still wired from meeting Priscilla, but hopefully her problem was solved now. Priscilla wouldn’t be going to the cops or that damn reporter.
She wouldn’t be going anywhere. And if that Jan woman caused trouble, she’d end up just like her friend.
She stopped at the sink to catch her breath, washed her hands, then forced herself to act normal.
Hoping to distract Kaylee, who was terrified of storms, she set the box of wooden ornaments on the table along with paints, then went to fetch the girls. While her husband sat with Becky, Kaylee and Ava were watchingThe Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
“Come on, girls,” she said as she paused the movie. “We’re going to decorate ornaments!”
Kaylee stood and clasped Ava’s hand and coaxed her to follow. Kaylee was such a sweet, docile child, but Ava had a fierce stubborn streak.
Piper had never been stubborn or talked back. She was the perfect angel.
Ava would be, too. One day. She had to be patient. Give her time to adjust. She would learn it was better to have a family than be alone.
Fresh pain stabbed through her chest where the hollow ache never seemed to cease. She knew all about being alone and the heartbreak of losing a loved one.
Kaylee smiled as she found the ornaments on the table, then selected a snowflake to paint. Ava chose a plain round ball.
While they began to dabble with the colors, she accessed the photographs she’d snapped of the next child on her list.
