Page 110 of The Woman with the Handcuffs

They had to have been bags he found in Caitlin’s trunk since most of them were tote bags for various bookstores all around the city.

There were other things to notice right away, though.

The overturned chairs. The knocked-over end table. A shattered glass. A dropped steak knife. With blood on the blade.

My stomach twisted as I looked over at my brother, then the other men.

“It was like this when we came in. The back door was open. They were in here. They tussled. Then…” He glanced out the window at the woods.

Fuck.

“Everyone armed?” Leo asked, getting quick confirmations.

“Then we go into the woods.”

There was no more discussion.

We all filed out the back door and took off in different directions.

I felt the adrenaline surging, making my blood rush in my ears, until I tried to focus, keep myself calm. I needed to listen, to make sure I didn’t hear any grunts or footsteps.

I wove around trees, jumped over logs, pushing myself further and further.

But there was nothing.

No tracks.

No sounds.

Nothing.

Not until a shot sounded out, making my blood freeze as I came to a stop.

And turned.

That shot came from behind me.

But not straight back.

Not at the cabin.

No.

It sounded like it came from the road.

The road where Caitlin was parked.

A sitting duck in a car.

She had a guard, I reminded myself as I started running back.

But then there was another shot.

A third.

A fourth.

Then silence.