Page 49 of Shadowed Witness (The Secrets of Kincaid #2)

Eric’s mind raced as he drove away from the festival and farther into the country. He was following Dion’s directions, and he prayed the teen knew what he was talking about.

“You’re sure this is where they’re taking her?” he asked again.

“Yes. Right before he got in her car, Bernie told one of his guys to meet him at location five.”

He hoped he was right. As Dion directed him down another road, he radioed backup with the update. He’d be first on scene, but help would be close behind.

“What kind of place is this?” He needed to know what they were heading into.

“It’s a cabin, like for hunting. It’s right on the edge of the woods.”

Most of the properties around here were on the edge of the woods, but not all of them had hunting cabins.

“Is there a house nearby?”

“Not within sight.”

“Okay. How many rooms does this cabin have?”

“I dunno. I’ve never been inside. One of the other guys brought me out here once to pick up ... stuff.” Even though they’d already established that Eric knew he’d been involved in dealing, Dion still hedged around actually saying the word drugs . “I stayed in the car.”

Eric glanced at him. The boy was risking everything to help save Allye.

Eric didn’t like taking him with him into danger, but he had little choice.

Dion’s knowledge of the drug ring’s locations was their only hope of finding Allye quickly.

And while Dion was confident he could get them there, he didn’t know the address or street names.

Their only other recourse was to get a warrant to track Wesley’s phone—and that would only help if Allye was still with him and they were in range. Eric knew in his gut that they didn’t have time for that.

“Turn here.”

Eric slammed on his brakes to avoid missing the turn. He noted the street name and called it in.

“We’re close. Don’t go too fast. The turn in is hard to see.”

Please keep Allye safe. Let us reach her in time.

THOMAS MARSHALL grinned at Allye. “Surprise.”

She gaped at the reporter. “You’re involved with this? People have been overdosing—dying.”

“Unfortunate, but not my fault.” He shrugged. “I’ve taken reasonable steps to avoid unnecessary deaths. Dead druggies don’t make good customers.”

His callous dismissal turned her stomach.

“Oh, don’t look so shocked.”

She glanced at Wesley. He looked sick too, but when she caught his eye, he turned and strode to what she guessed was the bathroom. Her hope of enlisting his help crashed to the floor. She was on her own, and she needed to get her wits together. God, please help me think—and send help!

“Whad’ya want, Thomas?” Bernie called.

The reporter kept his eyes on her, an unsettling smile playing about his lips. “Bourbon.”

“Coming right up.”

“What about the man Bernie killed? Was he not profitable enough for you?”

Thomas didn’t seem bothered by her question. “Now, he got what he deserved. As will you. I should have just let Bernie kill you then. Would have been much simpler.”

“You were there?”

“Of course.”

Realization dawned. “You were the man in the shadows.”

“Bingo. I knew you couldn’t have seen me well enough to identify me. But you saw Bernie, and I couldn’t let my brother go down.”

So they were brothers. Strange she’d never seen Bernie around before. Maybe he didn’t live in Kincaid.

“So why didn’t he kill me then?” The information might not matter at this point, but as long as he was still talking, he wasn’t giving the order to kill her.

“Jennings heard you scream and interfered. He argued that killing you would draw too much attention. He had a point. You’re too well-known and liked for no one to care if you disappeared or turned up dead.” Thomas narrowed his eyes. “But you wouldn’t let things go.”

“Why the break-ins at my house?”

He waved a hand in the direction Wesley had disappeared. “The illustrious mayor and councilman orchestrated the first one. Fools thought if no one believed you, your testimony would be worthless. Insisted there was no reason to kill you.” He sneered.

So they’d tried to save her. In their own messed-up way. She swallowed. “What about last night?”

His expression darkened. “You were going to meet with the forensic artist tomorrow. I couldn’t let that happen, but Bernie sent an incompetent fool to snatch you last night instead of going himself like he should have.”

Allye suppressed a shudder. “How do you know I’m supposed to meet with the artist tomorrow?”

“I saw your texts when you dropped your phone yesterday. Knew then that you had to go.”

A toilet flushed, and Wesley returned to the main room. He didn’t look her direction.

“People are still going to notice that I’m gone. They’ll look for me—look for you when they find my body. You’ll eventually be caught.”

Allye jumped as Bernie plunked a glass down on the island that separated the sitting area from the kitchenette.

“Order up, Tom.”

Thomas sauntered over and retrieved the drink, then returned his attention to Allye.

“I’m touched by your concern, but that isn’t an issue anymore.

We’ve had a bit of time to plan over the last week.

Bernie scouted out the perfect place to dispose of the evidence, and there’s nothing connecting either of us to you. ”

“Thomas, we need to talk about this,” Wesley said. “There’s got to be another solution that doesn’t involve murder.”

Thomas turned on him. “Yeah, why don’t we just have a tea party and discuss it? I’m sure she’ll keep her mouth shut once she realizes we’re a friendly lot.”

“I’m being serious.” He lowered his voice and took a step closer to Thomas.

Allye strained to hear his argument, but she couldn’t make out the words. There was no mistaking the disdain on Thomas’s face though. Wesley might be buying her a few extra minutes, but he wasn’t going to convince this man of anything. Please, God, send help.

Wesley’s voice rose slightly. “She’s not stupid—she’ll back off.”

Thomas thrust his finger at Wesley’s chest. “You’re more of an idiot than I thought. She knows too much.” He swiveled to fully face Allye again. “And she has no intention of backing off.”

“I—”

“Save your breath.” He sliced a hand toward Wesley. The liquid in his glass sloshed over the rim. “She knows you’re involved now. Knows I’m involved. You think for one minute she won’t turn us all in?”

“Why are you here?” She couldn’t figure out why he’d risk showing himself to her instead of just ordering a hit.

Thomas looked at her and grinned. The evil expression looked so like Bernie’s that her stomach constricted even more than it already was. He lifted his glass to her in a toast. “No sense in wasting a good show.”

Wesley paled, and Allye felt horror fill her. She remembered the victim behind her studio. Bernie had beaten him to death. While Thomas watched.

They weren’t planning to shoot her.