Page 11 of Widow Lake

Pulse racing, she carried it over to where the little girl was, then used it to loosen one of the boards. The wood was so rotten it easily came loose, and she pried another and then one more, making the hole bigger.

“Can you move your legs?” Lorna Bea asked.

Betsy whimpered again and the kitten meowed wildly, paws scratching at the floor.

“Come on, I’ll lift you out.” Lorna Bea perched behind Betsy then tugged beneath her arms and dragged her from the hole. She fell backward on her butt and Betsy fell on top of her, the kitten screeching.

“I want Mommy,” Betsy cried.

“I know, I’ll take you back,” Lorna Bea said. “See if you can stand up.”

The little girl managed to stand, although she winced in pain. “It hurts.”

Lorna Bea gave her a hug. “It’s okay, I’ll carry you.” She turned her back to Betsy and bent her knees. “Climb on and I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”

Betsy did as she said, wrapping one arm around Lorna Bea’s neck and tucking the little kitten under her other. Using the flashlight to guide them, Lorna Bea followed the trail markings she’d left behind as she hiked back through the woods.

Bushes parted ahead, and for a second she went still. It was the man with the hoodie.

“Who’s that man in the black?” Betsy whispered.

“I don’t know, but he’s scary. Let’s hurry. Hang on.” Lorna Bea took off running.

As she neared the cabins, she heard the shouts again. “Betsy!”

“Betsy, where are you?”

Betsy wiggled and called out for her parents. “Here, Mommy!”

Lorna Bea jogged toward the voices. Sweat beaded her skin as she reached the edge of the woods.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Betsy shrieked.

Lorna Bea set Betsy and the kitten on the ground. “Go to them, Betsy. Go.”

The little girl hobbled away and her parents ran down the hill to scoop her up.

Lorna Bea’s daddy’s Pathfinder rumbled up the graveled road. No telling what he’d do if he found out she’d disobeyed him. He’d probably punish her.

She raced back to the cabin.

She didn’t like his punishments.

TWELVE

There were too many damn people combing the woods around Widow Lake. It was dangerous to be here.

But it was the tenth anniversary of when it all began and he had to come. Had to honor the pact.

His pulse quickened. On second thought, having the police around would raise the stakes in the game.

Still, he had to be smart. Couldn’t get caught. Besides, he’d seen an older girl—she was maybe twelve or thirteen—in the woods. She intrigued him. He’d never taken one that young but the thought of it sent his blood buzzing.

Ducking in the shadows, he moved stealthily through the woods away from where the girl had spotted him. Cops and rescue workers were everywhere. He had to stay out of sight.

He darted past tall pines and patches of poison ivy, making his way back to the deserted cabin. He kept the lights off as he entered and closed the blinds, taking solace in the dark.

Still, he saw the flashlight beams through the slats. They were getting close to the cabin. Might want to ask questions. Irritated, he slipped out back, then climbed into the crawl space beneath the house. They’d never look here.

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