Page 109 of Trust No One

“I’m going to hike to the cabin.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“You should stay here. In case someone comes out of the woods.”

“I’m going in case Molly’s there. I don’t want her frightened.”

A muscle pulsed in his jaw—he didn’t like my answer. “Pick up the pace.”

“Okay. Okay.”

On the trail, I focused on the path, littered with roots, sticks, and rocks. Ken’s stride was long and quick. Keeping up was a challenge. Two steps for each one of his. My breath remained steady, but my ribs still ached. The distance widened between us. He reached the top of the trail well ahead of me.

By the time I spotted the small wooden cabin, Ken had his weapon drawn. He pounded on the door.

Curtains were drawn over small windows. The only sign of life: muddy boots discarded by the front door.

Ken twisted the doorknob—it was locked. “Gabe! It’s Ken. Open up!”

Silence shrouded the cabin. In the distance an animal scurried through the woods.

Ken stepped back and, in a swift move, kicked the door. The hinges strained against the dry, brittle wood. He kicked again. More wood splintered and cracked. On the third strike, the door slammed open.

I followed Ken.

He held up a hand. “Stay back. Let me search the cabin first. He’s here somewhere.”

Ken angled into the shadowed room. The silence was charged, heavy.

“Ken, what’s inside?” I rushed the front porch and peered inside. Stale, sour air drifted out of the small room.

The long shadows wrapped around Ken, looking down at a body on the floor. My stomach tightened.

“Stay outside,” Ken said.

“Tell me it’s not Molly.”

Ken rose, revealing a larger figure lying on the floor. He stepped toward me, his face an unreadable mask. “It’s Gabe. He’s dead.”

I edged closer to the figure. Even in the dim light, I recognized Gabe’s hand, the black wedding band encircling his ring finger. He lay beside torn-up floorboards.

“He was looking for something,” I said.

“Maybe,” Ken said. “This is a crime scene. We call Judson and wait outside.”

“Where’s Molly?”

“She’s not here. She’s not in the car. He left her somewhere.”

“Why would he take and then abandon her?”

“He’d move faster up to the cabin alone.” Ken reached for his cell and frowned. “No bars. Let’s go back to the lot.”

“We can’t just leave him here.”

“He’s not going anywhere.”

“That’s not funny. That’s Gabe.”