AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We will,” Kit snaps. “Once we’re safely in the house. Now move!”
When Garrett stays firm, blocking the doorway, Kit swings past me, but Madison is faster. She charges Garrett and slams both open palms into his stomach.
“Get the hell out of our way,” she snarls.
He lifts his hands, backing up. She mistakes the gesture for another block and swings at him, but I catch her arm.
“Okay, okay,” Garrett says, looking genuinely chagrined. “I’m sorry, kiddo. Of course, let’s get you to the house.”
“Wewilllook for Sadie,” I say as I prod Madison past him. “We aren’t going to presume she left until we’re sure she did.”
“Even if wearesure,” Jayla mutters behind me.
I get Madison out of the boathouse. Kit darts in front of us, and I’m about to barrel past him when I realize why he’s taken the lead. Because I’m striding into the dark night, while Nate’s killer is on the island and we’ve been making enough noise arguing to let a marching band sneak up on us.
Nate’s killer.
His image flashes, and the memory of his hand.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Everyone stay together,” Kit whispers. “Jayla, eyes right. Laney, eyes left. Garrett, bring up the rear, please.”
“No one put you in charge. I’m the—”
“—asshole who doesn’t know when to shut up,” Madison snaps. “Kit even added a ‘please,’ just for you. Stop swinging your dick.”
Garrett blinks. I brace, but he gives a curt nod, falls in behind, and we start forward. Kit told me to keep my eyes left. It’s open rock, with forest behind. It’s also the same side of the house with the broken lights. The same side where Nate’s hand—
Stop. Focus.
The world seems to end after the rocky shore, the forest beyond a black hole. Ten people could be poised at the edge, and I wouldn’t see them. I concentrate on the rocks instead, the lichen-dappled stone that stretches for fifty feet before reaching that forest’s edge.
I strain to listen for unusual sounds, but the slap of water on rock would drown them out. We continue, step by step, until we reach the front door. I slide forward to punch in the code as the others stand watch.
I lift my finger to the first button. Then I stop and turn the knob. The door opens.
I fall back, shielding Madison.
“It’s unlocked,” I blurt. “Someone’s in…” I trail off and turn to Jayla. “Did you come out the front?”
“Yeah,” Jayla says. “And we didn’t lock it behind us.”
“Because we don’t have the damn code,” Garrett says.
“You don’t need it,” Kit says. “Just hit the lock button and turn the knob.”
Garrett ignores him and pushes past us.
I catch his arm. “If the door was unlocked, someone could be in there.”
He starts to snap something and then stops as he realizes I’m right. He might be the cop in this group, but I’m the mystery writer—I know all the tricks.
Being a cop means Garrett does, apparently, know how to enter an unsecured area. He motions for Kit to cover him, earning an eye roll from Jayla, who takes the task instead, her knife in hand. Garrett swings through and smacks on the lights.
They both enter as Kit and I keep watch on the open landscape behind us.
“Clear,” Garrett says.
