Page 83 of Forbidden Secrets
“No.”Her gaze darted over Melanie’s shoulder.“But I don’t know how we’re getting out of this.”
She rose slowly to her feet.Rhonda stood about five feet away.
Melanie forced her breathing to slow and tried to think clearly.She couldn’t let fear keep her from acting, from doing what was needed to save her mom and herself.She wished Gage were there.His steady presence anchored her, helped calm her fears so she could function.If she was with him, they could take on any challenge.
“Get on the floor,” Rhonda ordered.“Once I’ve got you tied up, we wait.”
Melanie inched forward.She needed to close the distance.
“You don’t want to do this.You haven’t shot anyone.”She gestured with her hand, hoping to draw Rhonda’s focus.“There’s still time to make a different choice.”
Without any change in expression, Rhonda pulled the trigger.The gunshot pierced the air.
Donna screamed and Melanie lurched back, the flashlight flying from her hand and clattering across the floor.
She patted her chest, frantically feeling for an entry wound.No blood.No pain.She hadn’t been hit.
She dropped next to her mother.“Are you hurt?”
“No, no.I’m not hurt,” Donna breathed.
A click, then light flared from a camping lantern perched on a filing cabinet.
Rhonda voice was frigid.“Next shot won’t be a warning.I’d prefer if this went according to plan, but either way, you’ll end up dead.Now sit.Back to the wall.”
Thunder boomed outside, echoing the gunshot.Melanie couldn’t see any way to avoid it, so she sat.
Zip ties were cinched tight, biting into ankles and wrists.Beside her, Donna shifted like she was trying to find a comfortable position.
“If I’m ending up dead anyway,” Melanie said, steeling her voice, “at least tell me the truth.Why, Rhonda?”
“Because I have no choice,” Rhonda snapped.“Because you won’t stop digging.I’m done being afraid.”
She no longer looked like the polished banking official.Her eyes glittered with cold disdain, but also desperation.
Had Gage read the message Melanie’d sent?Once he did, she was sure he’d follow her into the mountains, but who knew when that would be?
Hope wavered.It could be hours before help arrived.She’d do what she could to buy time and trust they’d get a break and find some way to escape.
Donna moved again, her elbow bumping Melanie’s.
For now, she’d keep Rhonda talking.She was beginning to think her mom was up to something.
Eyes on the gun pointed at her, Melanie asked, “Does this have to do with your son?”
Rhonda gave her a startled look.“You must have talked to Greg.He’ll keep his mouth shut if he knows what’s good for him.”
Melanie’s eyes narrowed.“That voicemail, it wasn’t my mom, was it?”
Rhonda smirked.“Dylan, my brilliant son, showed me how to do it.He recorded his teacher’s voice, then used an AI app to make the voice say whatever he wanted.”
Melanie’s stomach turned.“How did you record Mom’s voice?”
“I went to the bank to open a CD account for Addy,” Donna muttered.“The message I got about the dogs being dumped out here must have been fake too.”
“Clever, aren’t I?And it’s surprisingly easy to send a call straight to voicemail without the phone ever ringing.Tech is such a blessing.”Rhonda’s voice dripped with false cheer.“In fact, I’ll play a little snippet for you.”
She produced her phone and hit play.A voice eerily like Melanie’s told Chase she had new information and to meet her at the mill.
