Page 82 of Forbidden Secrets
Gage punched the code into his garage door, motioning to Shane when he stepped out of his truck.“You’re coming with me.”
“I dropped by to get that router you’re lending me.What’s going on?”
Gage told him as they pulled out onto the street.
“Shit,” Shane muttered.“The Lockwood Mill’s been abandoned for over a decade.What would make those women go up there?”
Gage shook his head as he used the screen on the dash to call Ashley, Jordy and Olivia’s mom.
“Hey, Ash.Can Addy stay with you if Melanie’s not there when the bus drops her off?”
“Of course,” Ashley said without hesitation.“Is everything okay?”
“I hope so.I’ll explain later.Thanks.”He hung up, grateful for the help.
He picked up first ring when Sawyer called.“You find anything?”
“Yeah,” Sawyer said.“Cell phone pings show both women heading northeast on Route 22.Donna first, around nine.Melanie followed the same road about forty minutes later.”
“That’s a road that’ll take them to the mill?”
“Yeah,” Sawyer replied.“Last pings for both phones are off a tower west of the Lockwood Mill turnoff.Less than three miles out.Signal dropped after that.If their phones are still on, we might get another hit if they come back in range.”He paused.“There’s been interest in the mill lately.”
“Tell me.”Gage figured the more information he had, the better he could fit the puzzle pieces together.
“The Lockwood family tried to hang on in the early nineties.Took out loans to modernize but couldn’t make their payments.Ended up losing everything.Interesting note,” Sawyer added, “the family still owns the land, including a lake at the end of the valley.Josh Lockwood recently put together financing through Sierra Valley Bank to tear down the mill and build a hunting lodge and cabins.”
“Not sure how that fits in, but I’m on my way there.Shane’s with me.”
“Good.I’ll follow soon as I get my team together.In the meantime, I’m sending cruisers to check both Bradfords’ homes.I want to know where they are.”Sawyer’s voice dropped a notch.“Be safe, brother.Storm’s blowing in.”
***
The flashlight beam caught the dull glint of a gun barrel pointed at Melanie.She froze.Her pulse thundered in her ears at the voice.Not identifiable, but not a man’s.A woman’s.
“Where’s my mother?”she demanded.
“Safe.For now,” came the reply, cold and steady.
Melanie’s heart stuttered.The figure stepped forward into the flashlight’s shaky beam.Her hair was a tangled mess, her blazer torn at the sleeve, dirt smudging one cheek.Rhonda Lockwood.
Melanie reeled.“You?”
Rhonda’s eyes glittered.“All your questions.All your poking around.You couldn’t leave well enough alone.”
Melanie stared at her, stunned.All this time they’d thought Chase the threat.But it had been Rhonda, playing them all.
“Did you hurt her?”
“No more than I had to.She’s in there.”The gun jerked toward a dark doorway.“That’s where you’re going.Move it.”
Melanie stepped into the room.She felt the gun trained on her back like the tip of an icepick poking her.Her senses were primed for a shot that would send a bullet ripping through her body.Cold as it was, sweat trickled down her spine.
In the dim light, she swept the flashlight beam across a broken desk and an overturned chair, then landed on Donna.She sat slumped against the wall, zip ties binding her wrists and ankles, a filthy rag gagging her mouth.Her eyes were wide and scared.
Ignoring the hissed threat to stop, Melanie rushed forward and tugged the gag free.Donna licked her lips.
“Are you hurt?”Melanie whispered.
