Page 111 of The Girl in the River

The gun fired into the air and the two men struggled, both grappling for control, before it went off again.

ONE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE

“Mommy, I’m scared.”

Mia wrapped her arms around Pixie and hugged her tight, pressing her daughter against her chest. She could feel Pixie’s little body trembling against her. “Oh sweetie, it’s okay, Mommy’s here.” God, it felt so good to hold her again. Her little face looked terrified but so precious to her right now. She pulled back long enough to look into her eyes and search her face for injuries. “Did he hurt you?”

Pixie’s chin quivered. “He pinched my arm and he was scary,” Pixie whispered.

Fury filled Mia. “Oh, baby, that was so wrong.” She hugged her again, reminding herself Pixie was alive and breathing. “I’m here now and I won’t let him hurt you. I promise.”

Heaven help her, she hoped she could keep that promise.

Suddenly the sound of a gunshot blasting above choked Mia with fear.

Pixie jerked and screamed, covering her ears with her hands. “Mr. Mark…” she cried. “He killed Mr. Mark.”

Terror tore through Mia so intensely she nearly doubled over with it. An image of Mark’s sweet face floated through her mind. Kevin had taken everything from her. Jo-Jo and Seth. Patty. Tori. And now Mark, the best man she’d ever known. She was pretty sure the Moons had had something to do with her parents’ deaths, too.

She would not let them raise Pixie. She would die before that happened.

The second gunshot brought her out of her shock, the sound of the boat’s motor panicking her. Where were they going now? Were they going to kill her and stuff her body into a barrel like they had Patty?

She rubbed Pixie’s arms. “Listen, honey, I’m going to get us out of here. But you have to be really brave, okay?”

Pixie tightened her hold around Mia’s neck.

She rubbed Pixie’s back, soothing her daughter. “If I can get us out of the cabin we may have to take a lifeboat. I’ll need you to listen and do what I say.” She tipped Pixie’s chin up with her thumb. “We’ll call it our adventure. Now, I need to borrow one of your hairpins, okay?”

Pixie bobbed her head up and down. “’kay.”

Mia removed the bobby pin then set Pixie on the bed, hurrying to the door. She jammed the sharp end of the pin into the lock and twisted and wiggled it until she heard the lock click.

Then she dug the piece of glass from beneath the mattress and slipped it into her pocket.

“Come on, sweetheart,” she whispered. “Let’s go. And stay behind me.”

Pixie gave a small nod, and Mia clasped her little hand and led her up the stairs. Above, she heard a commotion. Shouts. Scuffling. Another gunshot.

She ducked her head above board and peered around, careful not to make a sound. Kevin’s father gripped his chest and staggered backward. Blood soaked his white shirt and he collapsed in shock. Kevin stood gripping a gun, his eyes wild. He really was a monster.

Ellie burst onto the scene, throwing herself at Kevin. He pivoted, gun going off again, but he missed and he and Ellie rolled to the floor. Mia wanted to help Ellie, but she had to get Pixie to safety first so she pulled her little girl to the deck and ran with her toward the stern where the life rafts were stored.

She’d been terrified of the river when she was little. She was terrified now. But Emily had helped her overcome her fear enough to sign up for swimming lessons so at least she’d learned to swim.

Rain began to pummel them, drenching her and Pixie whimpered. Mia grabbed a lifejacket, helped Pixie into it then tugged one on herself and fastened it.

Ellie and Kevin rolled and traded blows, then Ellie lunged at Kevin again. This time he gave her a hard shove and sent her flying over the edge, plunging into the cold water.

Pixie screamed, and Kevin whirled around and charged her. Mia thrust the shard of glass at him and sliced him across the arm as he reached for her. He grabbed her wrist and shook her with a howl, but she kicked him then lifted the glass, jabbing it into his chest. He screamed and swayed, losing his grip on her. She snatched Pixie, threw the lifeboat over the edge then helped lower Pixie into it.

Kevin was shouting in rage and grabbed at her leg, but she kicked him in the face. He howled, grabbing his nose as blood spurted. Then she jumped into the lifeboat with her daughter and began to paddle with the current.

ONE HUNDRED FIFTY

NORCROSS

Derrick found the security team at the park where Lindsey said Rick used to take Evan, showed them the boy’s photograph and explained that he was missing. They instantly issued an alert and officers started combing the park. Baseball was Evan’s favorite sport and he loved the Braves. Derrick remembered Rick taking him to a game and talking about how excited Evan had been when he’d caught a foul ball. They’d never get to attend a game together again.

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