Page 75 of Blackwood

“That’s familiar. I’ve seen that in these woods.”

“In Blackwood?” I stuffed my hands in my pockets to avoid the chill.

“No. Never out on that side of the county. Only over here.”

“Here? What, like at the Lodge?”

“Yeah.” He helped me over a small stream. “I reckon that’s right. It’s just a hunter’s mark, to remind them where the game trails are.” He pulled me to a stop. “It’s nothing, just a hunter’s mark, okay?” He put a hand to my cheek. “You’re already frozen. Let’s go back.”

“No.”

“Why?” Exasperation colored the word, but once again, he helped me walk farther into the woods.

“Because I saw photos of that mark. I saw a grave near one of those marks. A mass grave.”

“A mass grave? In Millwood County?”

“Yes,” I hissed. “There’s something out here. I thought it was at Blackwood.” A burst of orange caught my attention. “There!” I pointed.

He peered through the woods. “Yeah, there it is.”

We trudged over to the marked tree, and Rory ran his hand over it. “Just a hunter’s mark, like I said.”

“No. There’s more.” I took a few more steps, my eyes trained on the ground. “A clearing. Right up ahead.” And something else, highlighted by the dusting of white. “Come on.” I hurried forward, almost jogging through the trees until I found it.

“Whoa, what is that?” Rory caught up and stopped next to me.

I looked from the ground to him. “It’s—”

A shot went off, and one of Rory’s eyes exploded as the bullet cut through his skull.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

My back hitthenearest tree, and I slid down into a crouch. Rory lay face up, his legs kicking slightly before he stilled. He’d fallen sideways, his body lying at the edge of the same mass grave from Lillian’s photo.

I bit the back of my hand as I searched through the woods and tried to think of a way out. If I could get to the clearing, maybe I could run through it and into the trees—

“Elise?” A familiar voice yelled to me through the woods. “Don’t move. I’m coming to you.”

“Sheriff?” My eyes flickered from tree to tree and then back to Rory. My breakfast rose in my throat at the splash of gore staining the snow-dotted ground.

Approaching footsteps flicked the switch to my fight or flight, and I took off, racing through the trees. I zigged hard left into the clearing and raced across the uneven ground, the dead blades of grass slapping against my legs.

“Elise, stop!” The footsteps behind me intensified.

Mortal terror gripped my insides and twisted them. I put everything I had into my steps, my muscles burning as I gained the opposite tree line and hurdled a fallen trunk with a sloppy jump. Skidding as I dropped back to the ground, I lost my footing and fell hard on my side.

“Stop!” Another voice ahead of me.

Fuck.I scrambled to my feet and darted to the right. Another shot, and a stinging pain erupted in my side.

I shrieked and fell against the nearest tree.

“Stop running, you stupid bitch!” The voice from ahead of me grew louder.

I pressed my palm to my stomach, but I didn’t know what sort of damage lay beneath my coat. Each breath felt like a knife stab, and I sank to my knees, the cold earth welcoming me as I rested my forehead against the elm tree in front of me.

“Got another fucking mess on my hands.” Mayor Freeman emerged from the trees ahead of me, a high-powered rifle slung over his shoulder. “Am I a magnet for dumb bitches? Is that it? I feel like that has to be it.”

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