Page 126 of See How They Hide

“And it lets out here, into a pond, then another stream—here—runs to the lake, correct?”

“Yep,” Toby said. “I’ve been down to Havenwood a few times, so I know exactly what you’re thinking. It’s more a wide spot in the creek than a pond. It’s on the northeastern side of the community. In late spring, the pond overflows and runs down to the lake, but it’s still too cold for that.”

“That’s where she’s going. And she’s going to confront her mother, or create a distraction so we can reach Matt. We need to act now, not later.”

No one said anything. They were all watching Dean. Why couldn’t he make a decision?

Dean turned to Toby. “This could be dangerous, so it’s your choice. Can you show Kara the way down without being seen by anyone in the community?”

“I should be able to do that. Not a problem.”

“Okay. Kara—I’m letting you do this against my better judgment.”

“Just find Matt. I’ll get Riley to safety.”If I can, she thought.

“Go before I change my mind.”

48

Outside Havenwood

Catherine listened to the communications coming from the SWAT team checkpoints along the road. Two trucks were coming up the road, a white pickup with a camper shell and an open-bed darker pickup.

As the trucks passed each agent, additional details were relayed, and the vehicles came closer. Two people, a man and woman, in each truck. When they hit the paved road that led to the highway, they wouldn’t be able to see the rangers’ station or the many vehicles and tactical truck that had taken over the area. They also couldn’t see what was on the other side of a sharp curve in the road.

George said over the comm, “ETA, ten minutes.”

At first confirmation of the vehicles, SWAT had driven a Humvee onto the narrow road on the other side of the curve. When the trucks passed the ranger station hidden among the trees, another vehicle would drive onto the road and stop, to prevent them from backtracking.

Catherine, as a trained hostage negotiator, would attempt to convince the four people to stand down. She joined George outside, pulling her jacket tight around her against the cold, still air. They headed down the path to the road, then around the bend to where the SWAT leader waited with his Humvee and three trained tactical agents.

She was tense but calm. Hostage negotiation was a delicate conversation, and required finesse and experience. With a cult like this, Catherine didn’t know what to expect. They didn’t have enough information about the group. Would they surrender? Attempt suicide by cop? Delay the inevitable?

Cell phones were unreliable here, but they could have radios. Catherine assumed that when they were stopped, at the first sign that something was wrong they would have a way to alert Calliope and Havenwood. That would give Dean’s team limited time to rescue Matt. It was a delicate balancing act, and she feared she might make a tactical mistake that would cause Matt his life.

She feared he was already dead.

The realization that life was too short to hold grudges hit her. She was forty-two, a trained forensic psychiatrist, a mother, a wife. She had lost her sister and while Matt had nothing to do with Beth’s murder, she had held a grudge against him because he hadn’t loved Beth. Catherine had wanted Matt as part of their family, and thought brother-in-law was perfect. They were friends, they would be family.

She knew one reason she didn’t like Kara was because Matt loved her like he didn’t love Beth. Petty, childish, she saw now. Kara was rough around the edges, borderline violent, with a highly unusual upbringing. Her parents were criminals, her childhood filled with crime. How could she even compare to Catherine’s sweet, educated, beautiful, kind sister?

But it shouldn’t matter, Catherine realized. She’d kept a barrier between her and Matt for the last two years, first after Beth’s death because of her grief and pain, then after Matt started sleeping with Kara, out of anger and frustration.

It was Matt’s life. And Catherine didn’t want anything to happen to him without her telling him she was, truly, sorry for how she’d treated him of late. Even at dinner the other night—was it really less than a week ago?—she’d made snide comments about Kara. And he had ignored her.

She realized she should be apologizing to Kara, that Matt would appreciate that more.

Catherine hoped she’d have an opportunity. She didn’t have many friends; why did she think she could abuse those she had?

“You good, doc?” the SWAT leader asked.

She dismissed her contemplation.

“Good.”

“Stay behind me. You’re the negotiator. You wearing a vest?”

She nodded.

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