Page 20 of Secret Weapon

Nine wiped her face with a sleeve.“Brooke only said that because Shauna Weaver told her it was a cougar, but I don’t think Shauna actually saw it.”

She’d slipped back into character effortlessly.Brava, brava.If my nose hadn’t been throbbing like a bitch, I’d have believed the act too.

“Why are you all out here in the forest?”

“We heard something that could’ve been a scream and decided to investigate,” I said.

“All of you?Together?”

Nine sniffed and shook her head.“No, no, I was at the Craft Cabin when Shauna ran in, and…well, the dog made a real mess.Brooke and Paulo took them both to see Dr.Ward, Romi too, and I wondered if the cougar story was true—you know how Shauna exaggerates everything—so I opened the back door, just to see if…you know…if I could see anything.East always said there were cougars in the forest, but I’ve never heard of an actual sighting, have you?”

“Herb Pettigrew swears he came across one, but Herb exaggerates even more than Shauna.It was probably a kitten.”

“Or one of Elmira’s cats.”Nine gave a nervous giggle, then glanced at the girl on the ground and turned it into a sob.“I didn’t see a thing, not a cougar or a kitty, but I heard the scream too.And probably I shouldn’t have come out here, but East always told me to carry bear spray, just in case, so I grabbed it, and then…and then…”

Bear spray?Nine didn’t have bear spray.I’d searched her, and so had Ana.And yet she was clutching a can in her hand, her knuckles white.I patted my pocket.Not content with fracturing my nose, that bloody bitch had stolen my fucking bear spray, and while Luca checked his own pocket for a handkerchief, she sent a cocky smirk in my direction.

“Why don’t you sit down?”Luca suggested.“There’s a log over there.”

I got the smirk; he got a teary smile.“I do feel a little faint now.Is that normal?There’s just so much blood, and… That poor, poor girl.What kind of monster would do this to her?”

“That’s what I’ll be working to find out.”Luca offered Nine his arm, and she gripped it rather than leaning on it—that slice I’d taken out of her had to sting.Plus she’d developed a limp.As they headed for the log, Luca glanced sideways at Ana and me, then lowered his voice.“Darla, you know these people?”

“They were in the Craft Cabin earlier with that girl”—she nodded towards Hallie—“and a guy who I swear is Paulo’s long-lost twin.B-b-but I don’t know them, not even their names.I th-th-think they arrived right before I did, and then the blonde lady ran back to her vehicle to get a first aid kit, and she told me to squeeze the bag every six seconds, and will the injured girl be okay?She didn’t say a word, not one word, and…and…”

Crying sure was an effective way to avoid answering questions.Deputy Mendez gave Nine an awkward pat on the back and then set his sights on his next victim.Me.

“What’s your name, ma’am?”

“Emmy.”

“Emmy.And your friend?”

“Ana.”

“You’re new in town?Don’t recall seeing you around.”

“Just visiting.”I checked my watch.Let him see me do it.“We’re meant to be on our way to Portland right now.”

“I’ll try not to keep you for too long, ma’am.Did you get into an altercation?”He motioned at his nose.“You have a bruise there.”

My turn with the nervous laugh.“I ran back to my car to get the first aid kit, and I guess I wasn’t looking where I was going because the next thing I knew, I’d tripped right over a tree root.”He’d confirm that with Nine, and she’d back me up.She’d have to.“Smacked right into a tree trunk, and my nose started bleeding, which means you’ll find blood over in that direction.”I waved a hand at the trees.“And that blood is nothing to do with your victim, so don’t waste your time on it.”

“Thanks for the information.Can you talk me through what happened from the beginning?You were first on the scene?”

“Sure, but it looks as if those guys need a hand.”The EMTs were getting ready to move the girl onto the spinal board.“The ambulance is parked a distance away.”

Luca followed my gaze.“Right.And you don’t want to hang around in these trees.Are you staying in Portland?”

“We were staying at the Peninsula here in town, but we checked out earlier.”

“They can wait with me at the Craft Cabin,” Nine offered, wincing as she stood.“You could talk with us there once you’re done?”

Go back to the Craft Cabin?Bradley would be thrilled.

But I smiled and nodded because it was the best option, plus I could pick up coffee and a donut from the café next door.And I couldn’t deny being curious about Nine.There weren’t many female assassins in the world, even fewer with the skills she obviously had.Now that she’d stopped trying to kill me, a conversation promised to be quite interesting.

“Sure, we’ll all wait at the Craft Cabin.”

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