Page 443 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Hank got up. He swung his leg around.

Jacob raised both hands, but Hank’s boot slammed his head and palms. The blow ricocheted pain through his skull, and he cried out.

Jacob blinked, and Hank was over by the door. His former friend slammed the door shut. Still inside. Hank flicked a lock on the door, then spun around with a sneer on his face. “Now you die.”

Fear rushed over Jacob.

Mona is free.

But the two of them were right back in the past, smack-dab in the middle of the worst nightmare he’d ever had.

Jacob knew then there was no way he’d get out of this.

God, don’t let Addie get caught up in it.He couldn’t bear for her to be hurt.

That was his last thought.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Addie’s stomach knotted as soon as the cabin came into view. It didn’t look inviting at all, but someone inside had lights on behind whatever covered the windows. She could see thin strips of light between the boards.

“Whoa.” Kyle hit the brakes.

Addie slammed her palm down on the dash as the car sprayed gravel and came to a stop.

In front of them stood a blonde with a look of terror on her face.

“Mona.” Addie shoved her door open. “Mona!” She didn’t know what else to say. She just gathered her sister in her arms and held on for a second.

“I’ll get an ambulance here.” Kyle moved back to the driver’s door while Stella stayed by them, her weapon drawn.

Addie had never been so thankful to have partners with her.

Stella said, “Cops are here.”

They rolled up behind Kyle’s car. No lights or sirens. Just the low turnover of engines in a convoy of officers and SWAT.

But one thing breached the surface of her thoughts. “I need to do this myself.”

Mona stepped back.

Addie clutched her sister’s shoulders. “Tell me what’s going on in the cabin.”

The story spilled from Mona in fits and starts. Jacob being hurt, bleeding everywhere. Hank acting crazy. “He killed Celia, and Austin. They wanted to know everything about you.” Mona sniffed. “That’s why he broke up with Celia and started dating me. So they could get the story out from me, like I knew anything.” Her voice broke on a wail.

Addie tugged her sister in again for a hug.

But Mona shook her head. “Hank killed them both.”

“Okay. I know.” Addie nodded.

“He kept them close, dating Celia even though her parents hated it. Austin hated it. He wanted to kill Hank. Celia thought it was cool, getting that close to him when he’d been through the cabins and lived.”

“And now?” Addie asked. “What does he want with Jacob?”

“Andyou.”

Addie shook her head. “He didn’t take me. He just took you guys.” Not that Mona didn’t know it. But maybe she wasn’t thinking straight.

---