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“You know, I’m cursed with morals. I was raised a certain way. I wish I wasn’t. I wish I was raised by wolves.” — Carson Daly

Gwen

Holy crap. The note said “eyes and ears” everywhere. Quelling the impulse to search for hidden security devices, I stuff the note in my pocket next to my prototype weapon.

“I lost them.” Sam enters the cabin, then eyes us all. “What now?”

“Anyone else hungry?” After two deep breaths, I calm my racing heart, then snatch my sweatshirt off the door hanger. Someone knows what happened to Dolly and I’m going to find out.

Our private detective wipes her brow, unzips her black leather jacket, and raises her hand. “Me. I’ll go with. If the rest of youz would list what you want, we’ll bring it back.”

“This pregnant person needs some ice cream. I’m coming, too.” Once Lilac grabs her oversized Patten hoodie, the remainder of our entourage follows her out the door.

In silence, we make our way down the steep, muddy slope. Halfway there, Mia hisses, leaning into our group. “What gives these Armageddon cosplayers the right to spy on us? That’s so rude.”

She slips on a rock and might’ve fallen if not for Rose grabbing her arm. “Can’t you at least try to act normal?”

The older one’s authoritative tone causes the younger sibling to make a crude Italian gesture. “You wouldn’t recognize normal if it bit you in the ass.”

Under the moonlit sky, Sam rolls her eyes. “Stow it. This is urgent. We have our first clue as to the mystery of Gwen’s missing neighbor. If you don’t behave, you two are going to screwit up.”

This is all my fault. Had I known the weekend spa doubled as a survivalists’ training camp, I never would’ve allowed my friends to help me find Dolly.

While we huddle, I revise my last plan to include the note. “Listen up. When we reach the cafeteria, I will return to the locker room to retrieve my phone. Then, I’ll simply call Slate and ask him to come get us.”

Because four sets of eyebrows raise, I explain before they have a chance to dissuade me. “If I get caught, I’ll pretend to be lost… as well as a little bit drunk.”

Our resident PI will argue how she’s more qualified for sleuthing, but I whisper in her ear. “If anything happens, I’m trusting you to get the rest out of here.”

In agreement, we arrive at the bottom of the hill. Once all the other ladies turn right, I sneak into the shadows. Thick dew wets my sneakers in the tall grass between the fence and the back of the building.

It seems like days, not hours, since we handed over our belongings. Heart thumping, I squat beside a fist-sized rock. Once I pick it up, I stand and yank my elbow back. As I’m about to smash the window, I try the door handle.

I can’t believe my luck when it turns. Inside, I race to the room with all the lockers. Shit-shit-shit. A pull-down iron gate, the kind you find in inner cities, blocks my way. Unless a key, a lockpick, or a hacksaw magically appears, I’m leaving empty-handed, dammit.

Suddenly, someone pokes my shoulder. Prepared to do battle, I jump, then let out my breath. Thank God, it’s only Sam. Eyes wide, she puts a finger to my lips before pointing out an armed man who trots out of the forest toward the registration desk.

Why, oh why, had I not listened to Axel?

Pulling up my big-girl pants, I snatch Sam’s elbow as I walk out the door. “Time for Plan B.”

After I stumble out the front, I fall on my ass and giggle. “Chromium, N-nickle, C-copper. Oh-oh. Here comes a copper, now. Get it, Samantha? Did you hear how clever I was?”

Flat on my back, I stare up at a frowning, middle-aged, camo-faced militiaman whose grip tightens around his AR-15. “What are you two doing out here?”

On my knees, I wobble to stand. “Sorry, offisher. My friendsh and I needed some fresh air.”

My partner-in-crime wraps her arm around my waist, tugging me to her side. “As you can see, she’s had a little too much to drink, sir. I apologize. C’mon, girl, let’s go find the others, okay?”

No fool, the man scowls, cradling his weapon. Unlike the other wannabes, this warrior in front of us has the confident stance of a Navy SEAL. His bone-frog tat tells me he’s seen deadly combat.

“Lilac-lac-lac-laaa. Where are you?” Singing out of tune at the top of my lungs, I swallow the bile at the back of my throat and stumble to the commissary.

When the women exit the building, I hug the one with the pregnant belly. “How’s the baby-making going?”

Brows furrowed, Slate’s wife stares at me, spies Sam’s grin, then frowns. “How much of our wine did you consume?”

Her voice echoes off the concrete, catching the attention of another guard, who smiles and waves. “Are you girls lost?”

Seeing as how I’m supposed to be shit-faced, I rack my brain for something stupid to say. “Whoa. What’s with the face paint? Are we being invaded?”

His bright teeth shine in the moonlight. “No, miss. While you women enjoy your pampering, we practice our skills. It’s nothing to worry about.”

His automatic weapon tells a different story. “And what about that… that gun?”

While I point at his deadly rifle, he glances down and shrugs. “All blanks, ma'am, couldn’t kill a squirrel if I wanted to. Now, ladies, I don’t want to scold you, but Dr. Lewis has a full day scheduled tomorrow. Best you go back to your rooms.”

Donning a beatific smile, Blakely pushes us forward. “Thank you. You’re so kind. We’ll head there right away. We never would’ve left our room if it wasn’t for our dear, dear friend’s cravings for ice cream.”

The man nods and shuffles his feet. “I understand, ma’am. My wife was the same way.”

Worried we may be losing our window of opportunity, I slap my hand to my mouth and run behind the building. Dropping to my knees, I shout, “Sorry. Going to puke. Please don’t watch.”

Seconds later, Sam squats beside me, pats my back and holds my hair. “Nicely done, my friend.”

“Is he gone?” When I glance up, the other five ladies have joined us.

“Yeah. Guess he’s not fond of upchuck. Hold on, I see something weird.” The PI clicks a keychain-sized flashlight.

Its circle of light changes from bluish to yellow to flashing red. When it switches to ultraviolet, she shines it over the ground nearby. Hissing, she disappears behind the dumpster.

As I start to follow, she races back, breathing heavily. “Everyone, we need to go. Now!”

Halfway up the hill, I stop and grab her back pocket. “What exactly did you see, Sam?”

Head on a swivel, she leans her mouth toward my head. “A newly dead woman.”

Oh, my Lord. At first, I want to ask, ‘Are you sure?’but the shock on her face says it all. “Was it Dolly?”

“No, younger, about mid-thirties.” She turns to the rest who listen in on our conversation. “You guys, do any of you not think we are in, way over our heads?”

Before we can answer, Dr. Lewis shouts from where he stands right outside our cabin. “Hello, ladies, is there a problem I can help you with?”

“Don’t say anything to anyone.” As if Sam’s warning wasn’t enough, the cult leader shoots us one of his creepiest smiles.

Does he know there’s a corpse nearby? And if so, did someone tell him we saw it?

A sudden buzzing overhead causes us all to gaze up.

Hoping the drone belongs to team white hats, I grin. “Fairly sophisticated device, doctor. Is it yours?”

Eyes on the sky, the owner’s swarmy smirk fades for a second, then returns. “We have an early start tomorrow. How about we call it a night?”

Single file, we march past him and let out our breaths when he marches back down the path. Once we lock the door, we dare not say anything nor show any emotion. We may have dodged a bullet, but for how long?