Page 77 of Winter
No. No.
Olly was being set up; she knew it. Her sobs juddered to a halt and she dragged oxygen into her lungs in gasps, trying to regain control. One thought dominated her mind now.
How the hell was she going to save her brother?
It wasfour a.m. before Knox came back to the teashop. Tyler had returned earlier and they had been joined by the Winter brothers, both of whom had immediately sent their own security teams out to help the hunt. Tyler, hollow-eyed and stricken, got up to greet him, but Knox, grasping the older man’s arm, shook head.
“Nothing yet, buddy. Trust me, we’re looking. The coastguard is sending up a helicopter at first light. Same with the police, the F.B.I.” He took a deep breath. “Considering Nancy’s age and link to Inca, the feds are considering her disappearance as part of the case; they’re giving us all the resources we need.” He winced at the agony in Tyler’s face. “Man, we’ll find her. I promise.”
Tyler nodded, speechless with terror. Knox looked over to the two women, their eyes filled with the same horror as their friend’s. Luna hugged Knox and he sank into the embrace, exhausted, drained.
“I can’t stay long,” he murmured into her neck, his face buried in her hair. He was reluctant to let go. Luna cleared her throat and he looked up.
“Can I have a word, Knox? In private?” She looked embarrassed to ask.
In the kitchen, she looked at him squarely. “I need to tell you something. It’s going to sound crazy, and you’re going to think I’m saying it just to help Olly but—”
“Just go for it, Luna.”
She nodded. “All right. I think Olly’s being set up by Tommaso. I think he’s dangerous and unstable. Everything started to go bad when he showed up.”
Knox considered her words carefully. “Just one problem with that, Luna. Tommaso didn’t show up until a couple of months back. The murders started a year ago.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I know,” she hissed with frustration.
Knox relented. “Hey, I’m not taking his side, but I’m just telling you how the court will see it. For what it’s worth, I think there’s something hinky about him too. But just at the moment, I’ve got bigger things to worry about.”
She nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
They walked back out to the coffee house and Knox nodded to Tyler. “I’ll be back and keep you updated.” He walked towards the door, then turned on his heel and went back to Luna, searching her face. “Don’t go taking the law into your own hands now, will you? If what you say is true, I don’t want you getting hurt.”
Olly woke in his car. It took him a moment to orient himself to his surroundings. Desolation Point. He sat up and wondered how the hell he’d gotten there. An empty bottle of vodka lay next to him, but he frowned at it. Vodka wasn’t his drink. He opened the car door and the fresh air hit him.
“God.”
He stumbled from the car and rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. He saw the trunk of his car was lifted up and frowned. What the hell? As he stared at it, he felt his phone buzz. Voicemail. He listened to his sister’s words, and a sickening dread came over him.
Slowly he walked to the back of the car. The flies were buzzing maniacally, and Olly could only stare in horror at the dead body of his ex-girlfriend’s mother. Olly whirled and threw up and up until he could no longer do anything but dry-heave.
He staggered further away from the car, wondering what to do. He heard the sirens getting closer. Luna’s voice came back to him.
They’re going to arrest you.
He pulled his cell from out of his pocket and called her. She answered on the first ring.
“Olly?” she was whispering but, as soon as he heard her voice, he crumpled.
“Luna, Luna …” He started to sob. “They’re gonna say I did it …”
“No. No. Olly, listen to me. I know you are innocent. I know it with every cell in my body. I believe you.” Her voice was stronger now. “Are you listening?”
Olly’s sobs juddered to a halt and he panted, trying to catch his breath. “Yes.”
She lowered her voice again. “I believe in you.”
Olly shook his head. “You’re the only one who will,” he said bleakly.
He pushed his way through the woods, towards the sound of the sirens. A couple of cruisers were parked at the side of the road. As he approached, the cop driving the closest one got out of his car. Olly went up to him, his whole body slumped in defeat.
