Page 201 of You Betrayed Me (The Cahills 3)

Craning her neck to view more of the surrounding landscape through the window, she caught a glimpse of Julia, visible in the reflection of headlights on the snow, standing stock-still, facing the lane.

She brought someone with her? In another vehicle?

Why?

No good reason.

Julia took a step backward, more visible now. She reached into her pocket and withdrew a gun, aiming directly into the light.

A pistol? Not the stun gun? What was she doing? Holy shit, was she really going to shoot someone?

Sophia thought of Megan. “No!”

Bang!

Too late.

Julia fired, a flash showing in the muzzle of the gun just as Sophia caught a glimpse of Rebecca Travers, being hit, stepping backward, and then falling and running.

What in the world was Rebecca doing here?

This is wrong. So wrong!

Julia disappeared, moving quickly out of Sophia’s field of vision through the small window, chasing Rebecca, intent on killing her.

Over the thudding of her own heart, Sophia heard screaming and shouting, but couldn’t make out the words. Did Rebecca know Sophia was locked in the tiny house? Was she still alive?

She thought she might throw up, but climbed onto the ladder to get a different view through another small window. She saw no one. Should she bang on the door and yell for help? What would happen if . . .

Illumination washed up the hillside from the parked car.

Then Sophia saw someone running, heading toward the front door, avoiding being caught in the wash of light, her blond hair streaming behind her.

Julia.

Heart racing, Sophia scrambled back to her hiding place as she heard the rattle of keys in the lock. Julia was swearing, cursing under her breath, as she fumbled to unlock the door.

Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God. This is it!

The lock clicked, and the door swung open. “Sophia?” Julia called, panic audible in her voice.

Sophia fought the urge to say a word.

“Sophia?”

She heard Julia slap at the light switch. “What the hell?” Then, “Sophia! Oh, for God’s sake, where are you? I know you’re in here. Listen, we have a problem.” She stepped inside, and Sophia held her breath, wouldn’t be tricked. “I don’t have time for games,” Julia was saying, starting to sound frustrated. “Seriously. This is not the time!” She paused just inside the door, cold air sweeping and tugging at the hem of her coat.

Sophia felt her twin’s fear, sensed her ever-mounting anxiety.

“Sophia?”

A beat. Julia was waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness; only faint light seeped in through the open door. Then she turned and finally seemed to notice the thin strip of illumination visible beneath the bathroom door. “Are you . . . Are you okay?”

Sophia’s pulse thundered in her ears.

She didn’t answer.

“What the hell is this?” Julia said, obviously not fooled. “Fine!” she called out. “Your choice, Sophia. You want to stay up here all alone, then I’ll just leave, and I won’t come back!”

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