Page 96 of Dark Roads
“What if I don’t want to be free?”
“You have a big life waiting for you. I don’t want to be the guy you regret later.”
“I think I already do.” He looked stunned, his body giving a slight jolt, but then he nodded, once, twice, as though reminding himself that was what he’d wanted. Her anger.
A nurse appeared at the door. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, he’s leaving.” She gave her hand another tug, and Jonny finally let go. “I’m not feeling well.” She turned her head intothe pillow. Jonny murmured his goodbye. She listened to his steps fade out of the room.
The nurse adjusted her IV. “I didn’t know you and Jonny Miller were together.”
“We’re not.” She scratched at the bandage on her wrist. She wasn’t going to cry. Not in front of this woman who would tell everyone. “Can you give me more painkillers?”
“You’re on quite a bit—”
“Please. It really hurts.”
“Okay.” Her voice softened, and she patted Beth’s hand. “I’ll see if I can get you something.”
It had been two weeks. The bruises had mostly healed, the stitches had been removed. The flashbacks and nightmares continued to be a problem, which had bumped her Xanax use up to an alarming amount. She’d need a refill soon.
She chewed another one as she sat in her car, parked down a narrow logging road. Her backpack was filled with supplies, water, and a map. She’d brought orange tape to mark the trail.
Her cell felt warm in her hand. She’d lied to her mom again. They’d agreed to meet back at the motel in a couple of hours. They thought she was at the doctor’s, and considering her recent vow of honesty, they’d be extremely pissed that she was about to search for Hailey. It was important, though. She was going to help her get away from Vaughn once and for all.
Beth’s parents had offered her money to get settled again. She’d share it with Hailey. They’d find a place in Vancouver that accepted dogs. They could both start over.
She headed down the trail. It felt good to get some fresh air and sun. She hadn’t had much activity since getting out of the hospital, but she pushed herself along. Thompson had beenthere almost every day. She claimed shock to get her out of explaining some of the gaps.
They’d found Amber’s bracelet at Mason’s house. She’d asked for it, and was told someday, once they were finished their testing. The police were checking his DNA against other cold cases and still digging up his property. Thompson said it could take a while.
A trail of trees decorated with orange tape behind her, Beth followed the bank of the river until the cliffs eliminated the shoreline. She must be close to the bluffs. She had to go deeper into the forest. Her footsteps were muffled by a blanket of fir needles and moss. A bird gave a piercing cry, and she looked up, recognized a cedar tree where a branch jutted out in a horseshoe shape. She’d seen it before, lying on her back at the bottom of the pit and staring up at the sky.
She searched the ground for indentations. There, in the shadows of a large tree. It was subtle, the very slightest disturbance on the forest floor. She bent over, brushed the leaves away, and scraped at the dirt until she found the branches woven together under the surface. The pit.
Now she had to find the cabin. She’d only been walking a few minutes when she entered a small glade, the forest floor covered with ferns and salal bushes. Her boot caught on something. She froze, looked down. Was that… twine? She followed the length of it with her eyes. Some sort of trip wire? She eased her foot away. She wasn’t going an inch farther. She didn’t know what else Hailey had set up. Land mines? Anything was possible with that girl.
Beth took off her backpack and drank some water, then she whistled a few times, varying the tone and length. No answer except for birds. Time to step things up.
“Help!” she yelled. “Help! Wolf! Come here, boy!” She kept calling, turning in circles, hands around her mouth to make hervoice carry. Something rushed through the bushes. She leaned over and grabbed a stick. A shaggy black body bounded out from behind two trees with excited yelps. He danced around her legs, panting in an openmouthed smile. She dropped the stick.
“Hey, there, Wolf. Want a cookie?” She offered him a Milk-Bone from her pocket, which he took gently, set on the ground, sniffing it and then crunching it loudly between his white teeth.
Hailey appeared through the trees, a rifle at her hip. She was frowning, her eyes concerned. She looked Beth up and down. “You hurt? You were calling for help.”
“I didn’t want to yell your name.”
“Why are you here?”
“To make sure you’re okay.” Wolf leaned against Beth’s leg. She scratched his neck.
“You hiked up the mountain injured?” Hailey was still frowning. “What if you’d fallen again? You could’ve asked Jonny.”
“I’m better—and Jonny and I aren’t talking.”
Hailey lowered the gun. “What happened?” Beth wondered why he hadn’t told Hailey about their conversation in the hospital. Did it mean he had regrets?
“Why don’t you ask him?” When Hailey raised an eyebrow, Beth realized how childish she sounded. She relaxed her shoulders and rubbed Wolf’s head until he groaned. “We just want different things. I’m going back to Vancouver soon. You should come with me.”
