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“I think I see your point.”
Finally, Kara thought, but she kept her mouth shut.
“Watch for subtle clues, both verbal and physical. She has justified everything she’s done.” Catherine inserted an earpiece. “I’m going to listen to everything, but only you can see her. If her words and tone don’t match her actions, let me know somehow. And if there’s a point where your life is in immediate danger, you need to let us know.”
“I’m going to tell you this because honesty is always the best policy,” said Kara. “If Hazel and Jamie are in immediate danger, I’m getting them out and I don’t care what the fuck happens to Marcy Anderson.”
“She already believes you are her best friend. You come in from a big city and you are who she wants to be. The better rapport you develop, the better for the situation. Get her to relax.”
Kara didn’t say anything.
“You worked undercover for more than a decade and you lied for a living—you can’t lie to her?”
“I can, that’s not the issue. I just don’t know if it’s the best approach.”
“Trust me on this, Kara. If she thinks you’ve turned on her, she’ll kill you. It’s why I think Jamie may already be dead. Marcy has to believe that you’re on her side.”
“Okay,” Kara said.
Kara didn’t think that Jamie was dead. Maybe she didn’twantto believe it. She asked, “Do you think the fact that Cal didn’t die on theWater Lilycould have been a sign to Marcy that they were meant to be together?”
Catherine tilted her head, considering the possibility. “She might believe that. Cal got a second life, Marcy gets a second chance. And then he and Jamie recommit, set a wedding date, and announce they’re having a baby. That could certainly be the trigger for this.”
“Okay, I have a plan.” She nodded at Catherine. She hoped it worked.
“Good luck.” Catherine stepped out of the truck and Kara sped the last mile to the cabin.
35
Kara didn’t have time to fully assess her surroundings as she slammed on the brakes in front of the Finch cabin at 5:29 p.m. She’d spun the truck around so she could get out, putting the truck between her and the house in case Marcy decided to just shoot her without conversation.
She jumped out of the truck, but hesitated a brief moment.
The cabin was one story with an A-frame—a loft was upstairs. Five steps up to a narrow porch that wrapped all the way around the property. One window to the right, two windows to the left. Large wood door straight ahead.
From the maps and photos Ryder had obtained, plus Cal’s description, Kara knew the rear of the property was all windows with three sliding glass doors. The back deck extended over a short cliff. Not a kill-you-if-you-fall cliff, but you’d break a few bones. The inlet that the cabin had been built on was mostly private—only three other homes were nearby, none of which could be seen from the Finch property, and only one property had a full-time resident. The other two were a vacation home and one currently rented through a house-sharing site.
Her phone beeped. 5:30.
She cautiously approached the house. Marcy opened the door, keeping her body behind it. She had a gun in her left hand, and Kara had no way of knowing if Jamie or Hazel was on the other side of the door, where she couldn’t see.
Kara kept her hands visible. She had her weapon in the small of her back, but she made no move to retrieve it.
Marcy was not pleased to see Kara.
Kara held up Cal’s phone as she walked slowly up the stairs. “We need to talk.”
“Cal called you.”
Marcy looked over Kara’s shoulder. For Cal? For cops?
“I came alone, Marcy. We’re friends and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Get inside.”
After Kara stepped in, Marcy slammed the door behind her, locked and bolted it. She kept her distance from Kara.
Marcy holstered her gun, tucking it under a blazer that looked a lot like one Kara might wear. She didn’t take her eyes off Kara, but she clearly didn’t think that Kara was going to shoot her since she put her weapon away. A quick scan of her person and Kara determined that Marcy had another gun in an ankle holster. Kara didn’t know about sharps, but she had to assume Marcy had at least one knife on her.
