Page 92 of Storm Warning

But Hawk had already taken off, bolting into the woods, cutting through them in the direction they’d just come.

“What’s he going to do?” Jo maneuvered the truck to turn around in a tight space.

“He’s going to face the guy who abducted you and attacked me. His name is Cole, not Collin Barclay. He followed us. This can’t end well, and I don’t want Hawk to do it.”

“Remi, wait.” Jo held her arm so she couldn’t get out. “I have a lot to tell you. It’s important and has to do with everything. Let Hawk take care of this.”

When they’d started for the lodge earlier this afternoon, she had imagined a much different arrival.God, please keep Hawk safe.Fear gripped her chest and squeezed. She couldn’t hide her feelings. Didn’t care if Jo saw.

“I know you’re worried about him, but what can you do, Remi?”

Jo was right. “End this, that’s what.” She buckled up. “Let’s go.”

After skillfully turning the truck around, Jo sped south to the lodge. Remi stared out the window at the lush mossy greenery of the Olympic National Forest.

“There’s something else. Cole ... Cole is Hawk’s brother,” Remi said.

“Hisbrother?” Jo sounded incredulous.

Remi shared with Jo about Cole, what little she knew. “Yeah, it’s complicated.”

“Have you remembered?”

“Some of it.” She didn’t want to put Jo in more danger than she already had. “You said you had a lot to tell me.”

Jo swerved into the parking lot at Cedar Trails Lodge. “Better yet, I’ll show you.”

They jumped out of her truck and then rushed across the lot until they were at the entrance to Remi’s office. Jo fumbled with the keys but got the door open, and Remi followed her into her office. “Please tell me everything has been running smoothly here.”

“Everything’s fine,” Jo said. “But you’ve been missed, even if it was only a few days. It’s good to have you back. I wish I could say you’re safe, but sounds like this isn’t over yet.”

Remi was beginning to doubt it would ever be. “I’m so sorry about everything that’s happened to you, Jo, because of me. Are you okay?”

“I scheduled an appointment with someone. She’s booked out, of course. It is what it is. I’ll be fine.” Jo sent her a smile. “I’ve been through stuff before. I’m good.”

Jo unlocked the desk drawer and pulled out the package. “I found this in the trash.”

The packaging was the same size, and Remi could feel a box inside like the two other boxes.

“I’d say someone thought it was junk mail,” Jo said. “But I don’t think that’s what’s going on here.”

Remi would question Jo more on that response, but right now she focused on the package. She tore into the paper and found the same box as before. Then she opened the box to find more pieces of the puzzle.Allthe rest of the pieces of the puzzle. She counted twenty in total. She grabbed the two pieces she kept in the drawer.

Her pulse raced. “Hurry, help me with this.”

But she had a feeling she knew what the picture wouldshow. “You probably shouldn’t be here to see it.” Though it would mean nothing to Jo if it was simply the cathedral, but Remi sensed there was more to see. Something she’d missed.

“I’m in this, Remi. I’m in it already. Just ... let’s do this.”

38

Hawk had waited under the cover of trees for Cole to find a place to land, which wasn’t easy with the wind and the limited space to maneuver the bird. Catching a tree in a rotor would end in disaster. Maybe that was a better outcome than facing his brother.

No. He couldn’t think like that.

But really, what did he hope to accomplish?

Ending this.

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