AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know, but Janet’s murder is evidence of how serious her enemies were. There have been good reasons to keep Katie’s background under wraps...but I’m truly sorry for not telling you sooner.”
The ease with which he’d misled her was a warning signal that might as well have flashed in neon lights. What else could he tell her that wasn’t true? How would she ever know? “You should have known any secrets were safe with me.”
His jaw hardened. “I trust you. But what about your kids? Ben? Your friend Francie? What about John Doe on the streets of Fossil Hill? If someone casually stopped in town and asked a few questions, could there be a chance that one of them might inadvertently reveal Katie’s location? ‘Yeah, there’s a guy outside of town. Has his sister’s little girl. Is that the one you mean?’” Zach shook his head slowly. “Blind trust and common sense are two different things.”
Dana tried to mask her hurt. “Of course.”
Crossing the kitchen, he gently lifted her chin with a forefinger and looked down into her eyes. “Tell me you understand.”
“I...do. It’s just unsettling to see how easily I can be fooled.”
“Since coming here there have been so many times when I wanted to explain. But—”
At the sound of Gabe barreling down the steps, they both turned. A second later the dog was clawing furiously at the door, barking frantically.
“Whatever it is out there, I’m going after it,” Dana said. She reached for her Ruger 30-06 bolt action rifle on the top shelf of the closet by the door. “Coyotes, probably.”
“Wait!” Zach grabbed her wrist and hauled her back. “Someone might be out there.”
Molly came running into the kitchen, her face pale. “Look out the windows!” She jerked open the window shades to the west.
On the horizon an immense orange glow rose into the night sky, pulsing as if it were a living thing.
“I think that’s your place, Zach!” Dana spun around, her face pale. “Molly, call 911, then go wake up Ben. He needs to stay in the house with you kids. I’m grabbing my clothes.”
Without waiting for her, Zach grabbed his keys from his pocket and raced out to his SUV, thankful for the concealed weapon at his ankle.
Gut instinct told him that the fire was no accident.
A sick feeling rose in his throat at what might have happened if he and Katie had been there, asleep.
If this was the work of El Cazador, it might not be too late to catch him.
The man who had dared threaten Katie was going to pay.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
