Page 93 of The Hanging Dolls
The wind whipped through the trees, sending cold droplets splashing onto their faces. Zoe’s boots sunk into the mire as she hopped forward, trying to avoid the tangled roots and slush of leaves and mud.
“But it can’t be a coincidence that Lucy and Lily were both victims of Munchausen by proxy.” He smacked a branch out of the way as they pushed through the maze of crowded trees.
“He must have figured it out from the hospital. Might be related to someone who works there who told him about Lucy and Lily.”
The cottage came into view. The towering pines began to thin, revealing a faint glow in the distance. The structure appeared old and weather-beaten, its wooden shingles darkened by years of exposure to the elements, the windows fogged up from the cold.
“Think he’s been squatting here?” Scott asked.
“It’s his family cottage. No one has heard from Connor and his phone has been switched off.”
“It’s also the perfect place to keep Lucy captive.”
Zoe knocked firmly on the front door, the sound muffled by the pelting rain. She prayed that Connor was there. What if that casino owner he owed money to had gotten to him first?
After a tense moment, Connor opened the door. His face was gaunt and pallid, like he had been surviving on sparse amounts of food.
“Connor!” Scott said firmly. “We need to talk.”
Connor was like a scared animal. There was a mad desperation in his eyes, like he would bite anyone who came close. For a fraction of a second, fear flashed in his eyes and then he attempted to slam the door shut.
Zoe’s hand shot out, catching the door just in time. “Connor, don’t do this!”
“Not so fast!” Scott said, forcing the door open wider, as they pushed their way inside.
Panic-stricken, Connor fled, bumping into old furniture and antiques that cluttered the space. He flung open the back door, and a blast of cold wind and rain surged into the room. He stumbled into the storm, slipping on the slick ground as he tried to escape.
The forest outside was now a dark, swirling mass of shadows and rain. Zoe hesitated for a moment. She was never one to be scared of the elements but the wilderness of this place had gotten under her skin. When Scott shot past her, she followed suit, ignoring her fears.
Her vision was blurry in the downpour. She could make out the faint outline of Scott ahead of her, weaving through the drooping branches that were blowing in their faces. He reached out, grabbing Connor’s jacket and yanking him back into themud. Connor fought back, swinging an arm wildly, but Scott ducked and tackled him to the ground. They crashed into the muck, mud splattering everywhere.
Connor tried to wriggle free. He slammed his head into Scott’s who fell back. Zoe lunged at him, but he picked up a rock and swung it into the side of Zoe’s head. She ducked but wasn’t quick enough—he wasn’t able to knock her out but he drew blood. Her knees softened and she also dropped on the ground, mildly disoriented. He ran past them back to the cottage.
“Are you okay?” Scott asked.
Zoe was on all fours. She brought her hand to her temple and inspected it. It was covered in blood, but the rain fell on it with such speed and force that it quickly washed away, mingling with the soil underneath. “Go after him. I’m fine. He’s heading back to the cottage.”
He hesitated just for a moment and then hurried away. She called after him to be careful but her voice was drowned out by the thunder.
Zoe got to her feet slowly and steadied herself. Did she have a concussion? Her vision rippled and she blinked several times against the battering rain for it to return to normal. Her hair was matted to her scalp and she was chilled to the bone, barely able to feel her face. When her vision stabilized, she spotted something in the shadows. Another figure in the distance. Lightning lit up her surroundings and she saw Rachel.
A blink of the eye and she was gone.
But it propelled Zoe to head back to find Connor and Scott. When she reached the cottage, the back door was wide open. She withdrew her Glock from her waistband and cautiously entered, trying not to slip.
It was eerily silent and still. She squinted for a better view but the only light came from a dying fire in the fireplace and theoccasional flash of lightning. She moved her arm, aiming the gun in the dark corners. For a moment she thought she was alone.
But then a bullet whizzed past her and a hand came around her ankle, yanking her down.
“He’s got a gun.” Scott was taking cover behind a sofa, his hands secured around a gun. “I only have one bullet left and by my count he has two.”
“I got a full round.” Zoe breathed hard. “Can we call for backup?”
“No reception.”
“You won’t pin this on me!” Connor yelled from across the room, hiding behind an armchair.
Zoe thought fast. They could avoid bloodshed. “Connor, we know you bought the toy from eBay that was found close to Tara’s crime scene. You can’t deny this anymore.”
