Page 111 of Counter Attack

“Anything before the cave?”

She thought a minute and shook her head.

“Okay, start with when I left you and take me through what you remember.”

“I hopped in the shower, and I guess I was there longer than normal—after the day we had yesterday, the hot water felt so good. When I got out, the cocoa was sitting on the table. I thought Gram brought it.”

He stopped writing. “The cup wasn’t there when I cleared your bedroom. That means the person was in the house when you got home unless you didn’t set the alarm after I left.”

She shivered. “I’m 99 percent sure I set it.”

Nathan tried to picture both scenarios. He leaned toward the kidnapper hiding in the house when they returned. Otherwise, he would’ve had to break in, read the note and warm thecocoa, and get it back to the bedside table by the time Alexis got out of the shower. “No, I think they were here, observed your grandmother making the cocoa, and then read the note she left. I wonder what time Kayla left.” He texted Judith the question.

Alexis caught her breath. “You don’t believe Kayla—”

“Right now, just about everyone is a suspect.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Alexis said. “Why would she save my life and then do something like this?”

“Why would your kidnapper set a fire in the mouth of the cave? He had to know it wouldn’t keep burning and would only alert the forest rangers.” He tapped his lips with the pen. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“It does if Phame is trying to make me look ridiculous, or he’s trying to weaken me, like a cat when it plays with a mouse.”

Nathan looked around as Judith stuck her head in the door.

“Can I come in?”

“Sure,” he said motioned her inside the kitchen. “So, what time did she leave?”

“I didn’t look at the clock, but she insisted on helping with the dishes while I made cocoa, and then we shared a cup, talked about her college classes and her dad dying. She’s a sweet girl.”

“Would you say she stayed about an hour after we left?”

“Probably.”

“And you actually saw her leave?”

Judith nodded. “I remember I started to set the alarm then, but Carson called me to help him find his sleeping medicine. I keep it separate from his other medicines ...” Tears formed in her eyes. “I never thought of the alarm again.”

“Stop worrying about it,” Alexis said and hugged Judith. “I’m fine.”

She nodded. “I’ll try. Anything else?”

“That’s all,” Nathan said. “Thanks.”

After Judith left, Nathan said, “I’ll talk to Kayla later today. See if her story matches your grandmother’s.”

Alexis ran her finger around the top of the cup. “Just because she was here last night doesn’t mean she drugged and kidnapped me.”

“I know. But think about it. She was around when Smith was killed, and she moved here just before Gina Norman and Trevor Martin were murdered.”

“I know we have to look at everyone, but those are coincidences.” She held up her hand. “I know—neither of us like coincidence, but sometimes, things like that happen.”

That left them with an unknown intruder who was here long enough to see the note in the bedroom and set up the whole thing. That just didn’t set right with him. But it was hard to believe Kayla was that intruder or the person who kidnapped Alexis.

Alexis frowned. “I’m just glad my grandparents didn’t encounter my kidnapper.”

A text chimed on his phone, and he checked it. “It’s Madden. Chattanooga PD sent Denton’s DNA profile to the company he told me about to see if they can find any family connections. He’ll send the report as soon as he gets it.”

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