Page 71 of Smoky Mountain K-9

Thirty-Seven

Mara’s eyes tracked Constance as she paced. Back and forth, she went from the kitchen area to the window and back, pausing about every third or fourth pass to look out the window. She didn’t know what the woman was hoping to see. Mara doubted Carter would announce himself, even with the time limit Constance gave him.

Only the gun pressed to her temple had kept Mara quiet during that conversation. She hadn’t wanted to give Carter a reason to barge in without a care to his own safety. If Constance hit her or shot her to keep her quiet, he wouldn’t care what happened to him. He was already angry. She’d heard the steel in his voice, even from a distance.

Glancing away, she shifted in her seat, pulling against the ropes binding her to the chair. With a sigh, she dropped her gaze. Something near the floor at the back door caught her eye. She squinted, then quickly schooled her features as Constance turned. Putting on a blank mask, she looked around the room again, taking in the ballistic plates set up in a line. Constance wasn’t dumb. She knew what would happen if the mine under Mara’s chair went off before she was out of the cabin. She’d stayed on the other side of the plates since she tied Mara to the seat. It left Mara feeling bleak. If the mine tripped, she wondered if she’d even know.

But that little movement she glimpsed at the door gave her hope.

As soon as Constance turned her back to the door, Mara let her gaze drop to the floor. A small black cable reappeared from beneath the door. It was a camera scope. While she watched, it rotated, pointing up, then went slowly from one side of the doorframe to the other; retreating one more time as Constance turned around.

Mara’s heart rate soared. It had to be Carter. Did he realize she was strapped to a mine? Had he seen the superfine wire leading inside to her chair?

Constance paced back to the window, pausing again to look out. Mara took the opportunity to sign the word bomb and prayed he saw it.

“Your boyfriend is about to be late.”

Mara lowered her hand, rolling her wrist to hide any movements Constance might have seen. “He’ll be here.”

Constance walked toward her, coming up to the very edge of the ballistic shield. “Maybe he needs more incentive.” She lifted her phone and her gun. “Maybe hearing you scream as I put a bullet in you will help.”

The phone rang in her hand.

“Lucky, lucky.” Constance lowered the gun and answered, putting it on speaker. “I was about to make you hurry.”

“I’m here. Let her go. It’s me you want.”

Constance laughed. “Not hardly. I want you to suffer. Like I’ve suffered.” Twin pops of color erupted on her face. “Walk up here.”

“Do you have a death wish? I know you booby-trapped this place. At this distance, shrapnel will come through the windows if I trip something.”

Mara opened her mouth to warn him about the mine under her seat, but Constance raised her gun, eyeing her with a hard look.

“I’ll be fine.” She stroked her shirt, which was lumpy from the vest she wore beneath. Come to the front door. “You brought your dog, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” She hung up, a cold smile spreading over her face. “Time for lover-boy to face his past.” She walked to the door, standing to the side.

A soft knock echoed through the silence a minute later. Reaching out, Constance turned the doorknob, and the door swung in with a creak. Mara’s heartbeat quickened as Carter came into view. Unarmed, he still looked lethal. His silvery eyes were hard as he locked his gaze on Constance.

Bile rose in Mara’s throat as the reality of what was happening hit her. Someone in the next few minutes would likely end up seriously hurt or dead.

“Step inside and shut the door.” Constance stepped back, pointing her gun in Mara’s direction.

Carter did as she asked. Maverick growled at her. She swung her weapon around and trained it on the dog. He barked and took a step forward.

“Nein. Sitz,” Carter ordered.

Maverick’s butt hit the floor, but he continued to growl.

“So well-trained. It’s nice to see you’ve learned since the last one.”

Carter’s face stayed an emotionless mask except for the quick twitch in his jaw. Mara knew Constance had struck a nerve.

“Put the gun down, Constance. Let’s talk.”

“We can talk like this.” Her aim stayed on Maverick.