The Girls in the Snow (Nikki Hunt #1) - Stacy Green Page 0,98
even worse.
“Yeah, well the signal through here sucks. I can’t even access public records.”
“Call the office—”
“I texted Courtney.”
“Does she have access?”
“I gave her my user information.” Liam paused. “Don’t you want his head on a platter? I mean, this guy, he’s done terrible things to you, if he really did kill your parents… How are you so calm?”
For some reason, Rory’s face flashed through her mind. “I just want justice,” she said. “For my parents. And for Mark.”
Lake Mille Lacs stretched over 132,000 acres, and most of the private property was only accessible by dirt roads. The lake had only a handful of public access points, and most were shuttered for the winter. The majority of the resorts were owned by people who didn’t live in the area during the winter, but a few, like the one Nikki’s family went to, lived on the property year-round. Just the thought of being shut up and at the mercy of the ice and terrain made Nikki anxious.
“The county isn’t plowing the roads that lead to private access. Which means John had to barrel through big snow to get to the cabin. That’s why he took the Tahoe instead of his car.” Nikki pointed to the tire tracks cutting through the deep snow covering the private road.
Nikki parked as far onto the shoulder as she could. “We’re walking from here. Otherwise we’re likely to spook him.”
She and Liam checked their weapons, expecting to have to confront John, and gathered extra ammunition. Bitter cold made her bones ache, but Nikki left her heavy coat in the car, opting for a lightweight jacket she could easily move in. She pulled her wool hat low on her forehead and tightened the scarf around her face.
Liam pocketed his phone. “Courtney said John’s the sole owner now. She left the Cities about an hour ago. And she double-checked property records—the cabin’s the only address on this road. It’s a dead end.”
At least they wouldn’t have to worry about not having a signal to contact her. She and Liam trudged through the heavy snow along the edge of the road.
“There’s only one set of tire tracks,” Nikki said. “Whoever made them is still at the cabin.”
The cabin’s peaked roof emerged through the bare trees. No smoke came from the chimney. Most of the places up here had gas furnaces, but Nikki had no way of knowing if John had lit the pilot light.
Her maternal instincts flared at the thought of poor little Bailey being stuck in a freezing cabin, terrified of the person who was supposed to protect him.
The Tahoe was parked in front of the cabin, blocking their view of the door. They crouched behind the vehicle, and Nikki motioned for Liam to stay put. She inched around the right side, ready to shoot if John ambushed her.
Her teeth chattered with cold, yet her scalp prickled from sweat beneath the wool cap. Her breath unfurled in wispy clouds. She clapped her hand over her mouth. Had the blinds in the single front window moved?
She held her breath. The blind shifted again, a space appearing between two of the plastic slats.
“He knows we’re here.” Nikki shifted into a better position, ready to take a shot if she needed to. She took a deep breath. “John, it’s over.” Her voice sounded fragile in the freezing emptiness. “I’m not up here alone. I’ve got backup, with more cops on the way. Amy told us everything.”
If John realized he’d broken his wife’s jaw, Nikki’s bluff might piss him off enough to open the door.
“We just want Bailey safe.” Nikki moved closer to the front of the vehicle. “Let him go, and we’ll deal with this mess later.”
Would she really allow him to run? He had the money and resources to disappear, especially if he didn’t have a small child in tow. Trading a chance to escape over Bailey meant her parents’ killer may never be held accountable. Her parents hadn’t seen justice in twenty years. Bailey was just an innocent little boy with his whole life ahead of him. And Amy Banks didn’t deserve to lose both her children.
“John, I swear to you, let Bailey walk out of there, unharmed, we’ll take him somewhere safe. You can run. I’ll keep hunting you, but letting Bailey go will give you a fighting chance.”
The cabin’s door trembled. Nikki held up her left hand, signaling for Liam to get ready. The old door continued to rattle until the swollen wood finally broke loose and opened.