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Cisco lay still, having managed to absorb the blow without flinching. But his mind raced with what Cottins had just threatened. No forensic evidence… Reading between the lines, Cisco grew grim. Fire was going to be involved in his orchestrated death, he just knew it.
The good news? Cottins had also mentioned having to go back to his truck to get whatever he needed for his diabolical plan. That would give Cisco time to get free and find help. It’s too bad his phone had been destroyed.
Hilly was having a hard time sitting still.
It would easily be ten more minutes before SWAT arrived. Ten more minutes where Cisco could be in serious trouble. Had he fallen down into one of the few ravines north of here? Had he been attacked by a bear?
She needed to find out, and fast. But that meant getting rid of Crash and Adeline. She thought fast. She hated to break a semi-promise to Mason, but…
“I, uh, don’t suppose you two could head to the parking lot to meet Mason?” she asked them. “I need to use the restroom. This whole thing has put my guts in a turmoil.” She placed a hand on her lower intestines, hopefully fooling the pair into thinking she had an emergency.
“Go,” Crash said, getting to his feet and pulling Adeline up beside him. “We’ll wait for the team to arrive.”
“Thanks,” Hilly responded, also gaining an upright position. “I’ll join you as soon as I feel better.”
She didn’t relish lying to them, but as she walked away, she knew it was for the best. She could feel in her actually roiling gut that Cisco needed her.
She’d stop by her cabin, grab her bear-spray and a flashlight, then go cover the acreage to the north that she knew like the back of her hand.
It took less than two minutes before she had what she needed. She also threw a first-aid kit into her bag as well. Just in case. She hoped she wouldn’t need it. But what she really hoped was that Cisco wouldn’t need more than what she could provide.
Hilly made sure to slip out quietly, skirt her cabin, then stuck to the shadows where no one would see her as she took off.
When Nel unexpectedly came dashing out of the woods toward her, she quickly shushed her pup, scooping her up to carry her into the nearest cover of trees.
Nel didn’t like being picked up at the best of times, but right now, she was beyond frantic to get down.
Hilly complied, and the dog danced agitatedly around her. “Okay. What is it, girl?” she asked as Nel whined and twirled. “Do you know where Cisco is?”
The dog didn’t let out a bark, but spun on her paws one last time before heading north at a fast clip.
“Wait,” Hilly hissed. “I’m coming.”
Hilly broke into a sprint.
Once she was well clear of the camp, she turned her flashlight on, and it was a good thing. She’d had to run quickly to keep up with her dog, but now that the terrain was rougher, she needed it. With good light, and Hilly being in shape—along with a few soft whistles when Nel went too far ahead—she managed to keep up.
After fifteen minutes of nothing, and with Nel still on the move, Hilly’s anxiety grew. Why had Cisco gone this far? Had he found something concerning? Had whatever he’d discovered put him in a different kind of danger from that which Hilly had imagined?
A sharp bark up ahead had her double-timing it again, and when she heard footsteps heading her way, her body almost collapsed in relief.
“Cisco?” she cried.
“Miss Hilly?”
Damn. Hilly wilted. It wasn’t the voice she’d expected, but she recognized it. Carter. What the hell was he doing outside when she’d given explicit instructions for everyone to stay in their cabins?
“Carter?”
The boy came stumbling toward the beam of light she sent purposely his way. He looked a wreck. His face was tear-stained and one cheek was bright red as if he’d suffered some kind of injury.
“Are you alright?” she asked, as he approached, his breath hitching. “Why are you out here?”
“Oh, Miss Hilly,” he wailed. “I really screwed up.” His tone was regretful, but also filled with terror.
Hilly’s blood chilled. “What did you do?”
“I… I…only wanted to help; to make things right. I didn’t know it would?—”