Page 24 of Once a Hero

Beatrice: Stay where you are. We’re coming.

Jake: Who are you?

He had asked a second time. He would find out eventually, but there was no reason to tell him now while they were entering the forest.

Beatrice: You know who I am. Keep your phone on.

Jake: I’m running out of battery.

Beatrice: Conserve.

Jake: One more thing. What’s the local police number?

Beatrice: Don’t worry. I’m calling 911 for you.

Beatrice was relieved that Jake was okay. She called 911, but she wasn’t sure how long it would take them to come. She made sure to tell them that someone was injured in the forest.

She burst out of the van and ran toward the man on the ground. He was bleeding from the mouth. What did Raynelle and Kenichi do to him?

“He’s not talking,” Raynelle said.

Gunshots echoed through the forest.

Oh no. They might have found Jake!

Beatrice pressed a weapon on his chest. “Who are you after?”

The man spat blood on her boots—as if he knew she wouldn’t shoot.

Sigh.

“Don’t mess with me. Tell me now what they want from my friends they’re chasing.”

He said nothing.

“You’re afraid of Molyneux, but you’re not afraid of me?” Beatrice’s gloved hand went around his neck. She pressed, every calmly.

His eyes widened. “What…”

Beatrice pressed. She wondered how much she could press before he couldn’t breathe, but so far her words had scared him.

And herself too.

She wanted him to answer her before she started to get nervous. “Speak.”

“Cabin.” The man looked defeated. “They’re looking for the cabin.”

Beatrice noted the subtle shift. The man was changing sides. He had said “they” instead of “we.”

They figured Jake and Earl knew where the cabin was. They were probably right. That was also why Beatrice had followed Jake.

“Get him up,” Beatrice said. “Should we take him into the forest with us?”

Raynelle smiled. She seemed to like that sort of instruction. “His buddies could make him their target practice.”

“No…. Let me go,” He pleaded in a whiny voice. “They also want the brooches. Molly asked for them.”

“Molly?” Molyneux?

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