AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nate paused for a moment to think. “We’ll issue a public BOLO alert for Johnson and the rental vehicle he and Carter share. Carter should be able to provide the license plate and other details. It’s possible Johnson has a secondary mode of transportation and somewhere to lie low, so it may be worth asking any locals if they’ve had dealings with him.” He gestured at a tall female officer. “Anderson, I want you on that as a priority.”
“Yes, Sarge.”
My stomach knotted. I’d never liked Tyler Johnson, but I’d put my dislike down to jealousy over the fact he’d gotten to be part of Kennedy’s life in L.A. when I’d never had that chance. Maybe I shouldn’t have ignored the niggle telling me not to trust him. If I’d said something, Kennedy might still be safe.
“How are you holding up?” Nate asked quietly.
“Managing,” I said, returning my attention to the phone in my hand and the search party’s group chat because that was easier to deal with than the sympathy in my brother’s eyes.
“Keep it up.” He clapped me on the shoulder and got back to work.
Another hour crawled by. The community searchers cleared the buildings on the edge of the township nearest the ski resort. The rangers could find no sign of Kennedy or Tyler on the trails close to that edge of the township and were now venturing further afield.
Then Constable Anderson straightened and shouted for Nate. Finding herself the center of attention, her cheeks colored and she stammered, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Th-there’s a farm cabin rented under Johnson’s father’s name. It’s accessible by one of the private gravel accesses that comes off the road to Destiny Peak within the perimeter of the area flagged by the cell phone company. According to the property manager, Johnson has been renting it for several weeks.”
A shiver of discomfort ran through me at the thought that he’d been quietly planning this while living right next door to Kennedy.
“Assemble a tactical team to storm the cabin.” Nate’s tone was authoritative. “We need armed officers in full protective gear. I’m trained in hostage negotiation, but hopefully those skills won’t be needed.”
My fists clenched at the thought that Tyler might be holding Kennedy hostage. Who knew what he’d do if cornered?
“I’m coming,” I said.
Nate shook his head. “We can’t have civilians getting in the way. It’s too risky.”
Anger flashed through me. I wanted to get in his face and yell at him. Remind him of how he’d feel if it was Tess or Grace who’d been taken. But before I could, my phone buzzed with an incoming message. When I glanced down, it was from him.
Nate:We can’t stop a civilian if he happens to follow us at a distance. But don’t interfere.
My heart lifted, and I watched as Nate assembled a team, determined to follow as soon as they left. Kennedy needed me, and I wouldn’t let her down.
ChapterForty-Nine
KENNEDY
As time wore on,Tyler grew increasingly agitated. At first, he’d spoken calmly, but now he couldn’t seem to decide what to do, and it was causing him to spiral. With how long he’d been gone from town, he feared somebody would notice he was missing and make the connection. He said he couldn’t let me go because I’d be able to identify him, but he hadn’t been able to convince himself to take any other course of action.
According to his ramblings as he paced the length of the cabin, killing me would be the safest option, provided he could figure out how to dispose of my body. I was glad for his reluctance, but it seemed to be waning. He’d debated drugging me and hoping my memory would be fuzzy, but he didn’t want to take the risk. He’d considered beating me until I wasn’t capable of communicating anymore, but he didn’t seem to have a taste for hands-on violence.
The way he muttered to himself turned me cold. With every passing minute, he seemed to be becoming more erratic. I couldn’t be sure how long his unwillingness to harm me would continue.
“Perhaps I could dose you and move you far from Destiny Falls,” he said more to himself than to me. “They can’t search the whole country, and my father has connections at the port in Wellington. If I could get you there, I might be able to ship you back to L.A.”
“And then what?” I asked, unsure whether I wanted to know the answer.
He looked at me as if I was stupid. “Then I’d find somewhere to keep you.”
An invisible band tightened around my chest. “K-keep me?” I stared at him. “Like a pet?”
“Like a beautiful bird.” He sounded unhinged, the cracks showing through his usual facade.
I wanted to scream at him, but I held back. If the other option was death, I could handle being his caged bird. At least there was a chance I could break free or that somebody might find me.
“Okay,” I said. “So do that.”
“But where would we go? We have to get out of here.” He kicked the edge of the bunk in frustration. “I’d charter a helicopter, but the pilot might not keep his mouth shut.” He shook his head, dismissing that idea. “I need to get you to the car, but I can’t trust you to go without a fuss.”
“I’ll behave.” My stomach flipped at the possibility of getting outside the cabin. If my legs were freed and we were out in the open, I might be able to run. “I promise.”
