Page 89 of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10

Harley:It’s a tunnel. We went down into the basement and found a space under the staircase. If you climbed inside, there’s a door. It opens into this tunnel that leads away from the house and comes out through a hatch in the ground at the edge of the property.

[Silence. Throat clearing.]

Peter:So…what are you saying?

Harley:That it’s possible Chloe used it to leave the house undetected. It was less than a mile from the tunnel entrance to the road.

[Silence.]

Harley:But there’s another possibility, too. Someone used the tunnel to get into Eaton House undetected.

Peter:And take Chloe.

Part Three

The Game

“On Falcão Island, I think there was a moment when the game became reality. And the stakes shifted from who would win to who would make it out alive. But that’s life, right? We think we’re motivated by all sorts of things—money, success, fame. But when shit gets real, we’re all reduced to praying for something as simple as another good day with the people we love.”

HARLEY GRANGER,

Stranger Than Fiction: A Podcast

“What Happened to Chloe Miranda?”

33

ADELE

“What do you want?” Adele said, this time her voice loud, deeper.

She didn’t wait for an answer. She charged the strange figure in her path, roaring as loud as the thunder.

As she bolted forward, mud sucking at her feet, lightning flashing, the form stayed rooted. Fear, adrenaline seemed to slow time to a crawl. The person ahead of her raised his arms, yelled something. But she didn’t stop, kept moving until they came crashing together.

He didn’t yield and didn’t fight. Strong hands held her back, and her warrior’s yell died in her throat. The moment, the man came into focus.

Miller. For a moment, clear as day, she saw the face of her husband wearing that amused grin he used to flash at her when he thought she was being silly. She wanted to pummel him, to hold him tight, to rage, to weep.

But it wasn’t Miller. He hadn’t followed her here. He wasn’t as Agent Coben suggested, looking for a way to connect with her.He didn’t care. He’d left her, left their children, and never looked back.

“Easy there, tiger.” The voice was a grumble, barely audible in the weather.

Wild Cody stood drenched, still holding her wrists. She sagged with relief.

“You’re a badass, Adele Crane.”

“What are you doing out here?” she yelled against the rain.

“I thought you were calling for help,” he said. “I thought you were in trouble.”

“What happened toevery man for himself?”

He lifted his palms to the falling rain. “Well, I guess I’m as full of shit as everyone else around here.”

She almost laughed. Then the screaming started again.

“Let’s go,” she said, running toward the sound down a path that led to one of the other structures.

---