A threat.
“It was his word against yours.”
“The kid wouldn’t quit. He would’ve never stopped.” His chest rose and fell rapidly. “We had to kill him.”
“We?”
“Holmford. Me. The others.”
“And my grandfather helped you bury him.”
He sneered. “All because some chit told her spawn a story.”
“Like the one you told Mark?” The idea fell from her lips barely formed. “Why else would he do this with you?”
“Another spawn. He was a mistake that never amounted to anything. In the end he was good for something, though. No one will ever connect us.”
Ellie had more faith in the police and their powers of investigation than that. She’d grown up with the chief for a grandfather, and now her sister as a cop. They would eventually put all the pieces together, or they’d never rest.
Even if she was dead.
Maybe especially because she was dead.
“Holmford will wake up,” she said. “He’ll tell the police what you did.”
Gilane scoffed. “Please. I’m a doctor, remember? He’s in the hospital, and I’m due there later for work. Unfortunately for Holmford, he won’t be coming out of that coma I made sure he ended up in.”
He was going to kill Peter Holmford.
“And you carry on with your life? No one knows who that boy was. No one ever asks questions.”
“Hmm. Good point. Perhaps I could arrange for Holmford to wake up long enough to confess to me before he finally succumbs to his injuries.” He considered it. “I’ll have to work out a plan. I’m sure he can be useful, and I’m more than happy to make a statement to the police on what I heard.”
“You disgust me.” It had to be said. “You prey on people you consider less than you and discard them when they’re no longer of any use to you.”
“And in the meantime, everyone has a good time.”
Bile rose in her throat. “I’m not.”
“We could change that. I’m sure we have time.”
“I’d rather you just shoot me right here.”
“Why would I do that, when you could jump?” He said, “After, of course, you tell me all about your grandfather’s sins. The ones you can no longer live with. Make them juicy. The story will sound better.” He grabbed her arm.
Ellie cried out, but it was of no use. He dragged her to the edge. She didn’t look down. “No. Don’t do this. I won’t tell anyone.”
“Jump, or I push you. Your choice.”
“No!” She shook her head while Gilane stared down at her.
“Hey!”
A gunshot rang out. Gilane’s body jerked, and he let go of her. Another shot blasted right by her, washing the world in front of her in a flash of fire.
Ellie fell over the edge.
Thirty-Five
Dean got in Conroy’s face. “Get out of my way.”
“You don’t know that he has her.”
He gritted his teeth, hands fisted by his sides to keep from shoving the police chief away from him. Dean would end up arrested. And then where would Ellie be?
He spun to Jessica. “Talk some sense into him!”
Tears rolled down her face. For the first time, the young police officer looked scared. Ted moved to her, sliding his arm around her shoulders. Jessica grasped a handful of his brother’s shirt and held on so tight her knuckles turned white.
Dean turned back to Conroy.
“I know what you’re gonna say.” Conroy held up one hand, palm out. “We’ll find her. There’s a BOLO out for the doctor and his car, as well as Ellie. She won’t get far when everyone we have is out looking for her. It’s all over town that we need to find them ASAP.”
“So let’s go.”
He wanted to be comforted by Conroy’s words, but the sick feeling in his stomach wouldn’t ease. It had nothing to do with the sharp ache in his side from the gunshot graze and everything to do with the fact he’d trusted Gilane with Ellie. A man he’d respected had betrayed him. And for what?
Dean checked his backpack, ready to hoof it down the mountain.
“When you’re ready, we’ll head out. Mia will meet us at the parking lot.”
Dean started walking, zipping up the pack as he moved. He swung it over his shoulders and got his rifle from where he’d left it.
Ted said, “Dean.”
He shook his head and headed for the path.
“I’m coming with you.”
Dean nodded but didn’t spare even a second to glance at Jessica.
Every second he stayed there on the side of that mountain was a second Ellie might not have left to live. He knew how to press on and get the mission done. Dean