Page 58 of Cold Case Murder Mystery

“That’s... too bad,” Brooke said, trying to sound sympathetic even as fear slithered through her.

She had dealt with a lot of terrifying situations in her life, and perhaps this wasn’t the most dangerous, but being trapped in a cave with a man who thought murder was freedom was certainly the most bizarre and left her feeling the most out of her element.

Shecouldsurvive this, she knew, but she didn’t have the first idea as tohow. Yet.

“Have you... dealt with a cave-in like this before?” she asked, trying to sound bright and unaffected by the way he stared at her. The way all of this was so deeply and horribly unsettling.

She knew other entrances existed. The marked ones in the preserve, then other ones not usually big enough for people. Just wildlife.

Did he use any of those, or did he really just live in here? With all these bones. In all this darkness? But he had fire. He’d survived. Surely he had some outside life.Surely.

He clucked his tongue. “The cave doesn’t treat me that way. I am its god.”

“Ah.” What was there to say to that?

“Idid that.”

Brooke blinked. “You... caused the cave-in?”

“Of course. It’s been so long since I’ve had a good one. I’m getting too old and feeble. But you’re stuck now. I just needed you stuck. You don’t carry a gun like they do.”

Brooke swallowed and balled her hands into fists so her shakes weren’t visible, she hoped. “A gun isn’t the only weapon a person has.”

There were her tools, for starters, if she could get to them. He hadn’t gotten that far inside the room yet. She could get there and grab one before he could stop her, probably, considering how old he was.

But if she ran for one now, she’d be too close to him. She definitely didn’t want to be too close to him. Maybe he was old, maybe she could overpower him, but he seemed so calm. Like he had some kind of secret.

“The cave brought you to me,” he said, moving closer. “You are its offering. Why don’t you sit and accept your fate?”

Okay, this was getting worse. But hewasold and feeble. And she didn’t see any weapon yet. So why would she acceptanyfate? She was young and strong and capable. She could fight her way out of this, no matter how ill-suited she was to fighting.

Or so she thought. He dropped his torch and the flame went out with a sizzle.

Then he pulled out a gun.

Chapter Eighteen

Zeke didn’t like how long it was taking to walk to the back of the cave. The map had made it look like a short distance, but this was taking too long. Or maybe he was too impatient, thinking of Brooke sitting in that cave alone. Possibly trapped—on purpose.

His training told him to turn off all thoughts of Brooke. Bank those emotions and deal with reality. He didn’t know if it was age, years out of North Star, or the depth of his feelings for Brooke, but he just couldn’t manage it. His pace kept picking up.

Luckily, they hadn’t encountered anyone yet. Not random hikers or campers and, more importantly, no law enforcement. That led Zeke to believe rescue efforts were focused on the front side of the cave.

So theirs would focus on the back.

“Do you think Chloe will let you know if they get her out of there?”

“Yeah, she’ll probably send me a text, but I don’t know if I’ll get it with the patchy service,” Carlyle replied.

Well, then he’d try to convince himself Brooke was fine and they just hadn’t gotten the message. He’d slow his pace. Be careful and tactical.

“They ever teach you stealth in the Sons?” Zeke grumbled since Royal seemed bound and determined to rush ahead even worse than him, being loud enough that anyone might know they’re coming.

“I wasn’tinthe Sons,” Royal returned. “I wasinfiltratingthe Sons and lived to tell the tale. I’ve got plenty of stealth.”

“Maybe use it,” Carlyle muttered, her eyes moving around the trees that surrounded them.

Zeke didn’t mind their bickering. It kind of reminded him of being back in North Star. There was a certain level of... levity you had to maintain when dealing with such serious situations. It was like falling back into old familiar patterns. But not... going back in time. More a nostalgic feeling.

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