Page 28 of A Christmas to Die For
Why did I do this to her?
"Let's go home," Mara suggests. She's right. I feel a looming presence watching over us, like we shouldn't be here. But I can't leave without seeing that murder scene.
"Once we talk to the police, I think we should go home, too," Phoebe says.
"Wecan't." I swipe at my nose, still on the floor. "We're right there. The cabin is rightthere. I'm going tomorrow, with or without you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm putting on pajamas and trying to get some sleep."
Sleep. That was wishful thinking.
If it weren't for the heater kicking on like it's possessed, I'd be convinced we lost power again. I wake up over and over, heart pounding, every creak of the floorboards or rustling of the sheets sending a fresh jolt through my system.
The outside branches claw at the siding of the cabin. It could be the wind—shouldbe the wind—but the sound feels intentional. Like someone's out there itching to come in.
I checked the door lock three times before morning. And still,I don't feel safe.
Mara stretches her arms overhead, then peeks through the crack in the curtains—probably already thinking about hitting the road.
"I'm going to that cabin," I announce to a room full of disbelievers. "Just watch me."
To prove it, I throw back the covers and start layering on clothes.
"Sabrina, nothing up there is going to make this trip worth it," Mara warns.
"You'd think someone died," I mutter. "All that happened was some creepy message from an old guy and we got robbed."
"Oh, and now I probably have to file a claim with your insurance on your behalf because you thought it was smart to bring actualprecious stoneson a weekend trip!"
"Might I remind you my laptop was stolen too? Mara, nothing of yours is missing?"
Phoebe looks to Mara like maybe the secrets are still being withheld, but Mara appears perplexed.
"Not that I noticed. I even checked the car keys. They're still right where we left them." Mara gestures toward my jacket, hanging on the back of a chair, the keys tucked inside my pocket.
"Well, hallelujah," I sing, finishing up with my boots and ready to go. "I'm gonna drive myself over. Anyone care to join? It is Christmas Eve, after all."
"Irefuse." I decline the invite, as well as the possibility of uncovering something I'd rather stay buried. "You'll have to go without me."
"Your loss. Phoebe?"
"I mean… I guess. Right now?"
"Yes, before it gets busy this morning. Mara, maybe you can even distract the cop who comes to take our statement, just in case someone calls in that we're 'trespassing.'"
"Youaretrespassing," I remind her. "You and Phoebe keep your phones on. I'll stay back and get us ready for check out."
"Deal." Sabrina gives me a quick high-five, and I get this unsettling feeling that it'll be the last time I see them.
Stop, Mara.They have safety in numbers. If anything, I'm the one who'll be left alone, left to fend for myself if someone comes back.
I guess leaving the ominous note on the door didn't work. They're still going. Nothing I can do now butwait.
Sabrina and I buckle our seatbelts, hearts thudding a little too hard. The weather's holding—for now—but up here, it could change in the blink of an eye, so we don't have time to waste.
Thank God the chains are still latched tight around the tires. It wouldn't surprise me if Albert removed them in the middle of the night just to spite us.
I have no idea if a snowplow has even made it up this far to clear the roads to our destination. But why would it? There's nothing out there except the cabin and one other house—both abandoned, both rotting into the hillside like they've been erased on purpose.
Sabrina starts up the car and adjusts the rearview mirror. The backup camera flickers on, and something flashes across the screen. A dark blur, fast and low. Like a person crawling on all fours. My breath catches, and a heart attack threatens my chest.
