Page 29

Dominic turned onto the rutted road that led to the Moran’s cabin. It wasn’t as overgrown as he assumed it would be. In fact, it wasn’t even a dirt road anymore. It was covered with gravel, with freshly cut branches and brush along the sides. Someone had filled in all the potholes.

“Look, there.”

Kayne pointed into the trees. A flash of white caught Dom’s eye.

“It’s the ME van,” Kayne said. “Good call. This is where she brought them.”

Dom switched off the headlights. They couldn’t afford to announce their arrival. He used the moonlight to navigate to the open area designated for parking.

“Can you use a gun?” Kayne asked as they met behind the vehicle.

“Yes.”

Kayne handed him a Sig Sauer and a bulletproof vest. Dom ripped off his tux jacked and pulled it on. Kayne did the same, then lined his pockets with objects.

“What are those?”

“Flashbangs in case we need a distraction. A drone if we need to see what’s going on inside, assuming there is a structure. Extra ammo. And comm devices.”

He handed Dom one, and he inserted it in his ear.

“Remember our deal. I’m the boss. You defer to me.”

“Got it, but I’ll get us to where the old cabin used to be.”

“Lead the way.”

Dom took off down the path that had also been cleared. It was a hike to get to the spot, and he set a rapid clip fueled by adrenalin and panic. Kayne easily kept up with him.

“I’ll be damned.”

“What?” Kayne asked.

“She rebuilt the cabin. It looks exactly like the other one.”

They slowed as they neared and crept closer. Curtains were drawn over the windows. “I can’t see inside.”

Kayne pulled a box from his pocket. “I can.”

He withdrew a device that looked like no bigger than a fly. “This is Queen Atta.”

“Like the flying ant in A Bug’s Life ?” Gia loved that movie, and he’d seen it dozens of times.

“Exactly.”

Using his phone, Kayne sent it airborne, and then it was inside.

“Damn, that’s impressive.”

“It is.”

Kayne held the screen so they could both watch. Presley was there, and thank God, she was alive. She was strapped to a chair, as were Jessie and Tamera. Val Anders held a gun which was pointed at Presley. Dom had flashbacks to Eddie Smith and shuddered.

“It looks like something out of a hospital horror movie,” Kayne remarked. “I wonder what’s inside those saline bags.”

“It can’t be good.”

Val was talking, facing Presley and a camera on a tripod. Dom caught a flash of movement. “Someone is working the camera. Can you get a look at them?”

Kayne manipulated Queen Atta, and Dom jerked back. “Oh, hell no.”

“What is it?”

“That’s Rena Robbins. One of my firefighters.”

“It’s all making sense,” Kayne said. “She must be the one who set the blazes.”

“I had that woman in my house, around my daughter.”

“That won’t happen again. She’s going down tonight.”

Kayne checked the other rooms in the cabin and then brought Queen Atta back to roost.

“What’s the plan?” Dom wanted to know. If it were up to him, he’d bust in right now and throw his body over Presley to protect her.

“I’m going to go in through the bathroom window. Call the police and give them directions here.”

“I can enter the front and distract them. Then you can come up from behind and disarm Anders.”

Kayne thought about it and shook his head. “I don’t trust that she won’t shoot you on sight.”

Dom shrugged. “I’ll take the chance.”

“I won’t. Call the police.”

Dom gritted his teeth as Kayne slinked away. He did as told and then moved to the door. It wasn’t closed all the way. He eased it open so he could hear what was being said.

“We’re kindred spirits, you and I, Presley. Those girls took one of your family members, just as they did mine. Then they lied. They lied!”

“We are, Val. We’ve both been betrayed. There’s no reason to keep me here now that I know what really happened. Thank you for giving me that closure. Please let me go so I can grieve.”

“Oh, sweetie, I want to. Believe me, I do. But I can’t. You must know how much that pains me. I never planned on including you. I feel no remorse for killing the others, but your death will haunt me.”

It took every ounce of restraint Dom had not to go busting inside that second.

“I’ve got the bathroom window open,” Kayne said through the comms. “I’m going in now.”

Dom couldn’t believe Rena was in on the killings. She was a good firefighter. More importantly, he’d trusted her. Knowing she was a killer was a harsh blow.

“Hold the love fest,” Rena called out. “I need to take a leak.”

Shit, Kayne wasn’t inside yet. “Rena’s headed to the bathroom,” he told Kayne. “I’m going in the front.”

“Damn it, be careful.”

He pushed open the door and stepped across the threshold. “What do you think you’re doing, Dr. Anders?”

The doctor shrieked and swung the gun at him. He held up his arms to show he wasn’t armed, relieved when a bullet didn’t pierce his skin.

Rena spun around and gasped. “Captain Bianchi. What are you doing here?” She ran to him with hands clasped before her as if praying. “You have to leave, Captain,” Rena fretted. “Please. Go now. You can’t be here.”

“I’m in and ready,” Kayne said. “Keep them engaged.”

“I’m not going to do that, Rena. I know you set the fires that killed four people.”

Rena clutched her head. “No, no, no. You can’t know that.”

“Stop moving!” Val ordered. He’d been inching his way closer to Presley. “Keep your hands up. Rena, check him for weapons and tie him up.”

Rena’s arms dropped. “No, Val. I can’t do that. He’s my captain.”

Val aimed the gun at Rena. “I don’t care. I said do it now.”

“No.”

“Fine. I’ll take care of him.”

The gun swung toward him. Everything happened in slow motion. A shot rang out, and he prepared for the hit. Instead, a good portion of Dr. Anders’s head exploded into a fine red mist. He dove for Presley, but Rena was closer. She snaked an arm around her neck and dragged her out of the chair, causing it to crash to the floor. Rena backed up until she hit the wall. She’d produced a knife, which she held to Presley’s carotid artery. Dom froze. If she so much as nicked it, Presley would bleed out in a matter of minutes.

Rena used Presley as a shield. It would be too risky for Kayne to take a shot.

“Who’s there?” she called out. “Who shot Val? Come out with your hands in the air.”

While Kayne walked out, Dom watched Presley. One of her hands was free. Instead of grasping the forearm around her neck, she slowly inched it in front of herself.

“Oh, damn, it’s you. The hot guy,” Rena griped. “I planned on returning to the gala to seduce you.”

Dom needed to keep her talking so Presley could do whatever she planned. “I thought Val Anders was your lover?”

“She’s one of them. I’m pansexual. I enjoy both men and women.”

“You’re outnumbered,” Kayne pointed out. “Surrender now and you won’t get hurt.”

Her head snapped back and forth between him and Kayne. “Both of you, stay where you are!”

“You have to know this isn’t going to end well for you, Rena,” Dominic told her. “Give me the knife and let Presley go. I need you on my crew.” That lie almost clogged in his throat. “You don’t want to lose your firefighting career, do you?”

The hand holding the knife to Presley’s throat slackened, giving Presley the opening she needed. She reached between her legs, lifted the gun that had been strapped to her thigh, and pulled the trigger. Rena roared in pain, then reached up and, with both hands, slammed the knife into Presley’s chest.