Page 128 of See How They Hide

“Where would Riley come from?” Kara asked.

He gestured to the other side of the Office. There was a field of snow. She didn’t know what he was pointing to.

“That wide spot there, at the base of the cliff? That’s the pond. On the other side it’s not as steep, and that’s the easiest way to come down from the road, cutting across behind the building.”

“We need to get to that building without being seen.”

He considered that, said, “Follow me.”

She did. He hadn’t steered her wrong yet. They walked along the edge of the road, on the other side of the bank of snow. Her legs sank deeper into the snow, over the top of her boots. She was cold and uncomfortable and couldn’t wait for hot coffee and a hotter shower.

The road curved just a bit about a hundred feet up, and that’s where Toby crossed it. He climbed up the embankment, then reached out and helped her up.

They were at the back of the cabin. She immediately ran up to the wall, put her back to it, hoping no one was inside and had seen them. There was a path that wrapped around three sides of the building. The fourth side was too narrow. She peered cautiously into one of the windows.

The one-room building was empty of people, but had several desks, filing cabinets, phones, and two computers. An old couch and table filled the rest of the space.

And she saw Matt’s gun, pocketknife, and badge on a table.

She motioned to Toby that she was going in. The door was locked. Probably to keep anyone who didn’t have Calliope’s approval from communicating with the outside world. But it was a flimsy lock, and she easily broke it with the butt of her gun, thecrack!of metal on metal surprisingly loud.

She slowly entered.

A quick look told her this was a treasure trove of evidence. On a clipboard next to the computer was a list of names and addresses—including every murder victim. Why would Calliope keep this out in the open? Did they not think they’d be caught?

Clearly not. Killers rarely thought they’d be caught.

She said to Toby, “I need you to stay here and secure this building.” She pocketed Matt’s badge and knife and handed Toby his gun. She had two of her own. “You good?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ma’am.She almost smiled.

She was about to leave when she heard a radio beep.

“Feds are here. Repeat feds are here,” a crackly voice came through.

Dammit. Were Anton and the others alerting Calliope right now? Did she have another radio? Would she hear the warning?

“Dean, it’s Kara. Over,” she said into her own radio that was set to Dean’s channel.

No response.

“Dean, they know we’re here. Proceed with caution.”

No response.

Dammit!

“I have to go,” she said to Toby. “Stay safe, keep this place locked down. We need this evidence.”

“Roger that. Be careful.”

Kara went back outside and almost immediately saw footprints in the snow.

Two sets went down a path that led to stairs built into the cliff.

The other, single set went perpendicular, toward the far side of the pond, as Toby had indicated.

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