Page 143 of Coordinates of Death

A tremor chilled Aurora, cementing her in place. “I’m not sure I want to guess.” She pointed to the other box. “That must be yours, Kord.”

“These twins are sick.” Hayley shuffled over to the piano and hit a key, the note reverberating into three distinct tones. “So glad this game is finally over.”

“You got that right, sis.” Kordell gazed at his box. Dried maple leaves were encased in a matching mahogany frame, just like Aurora’s. “Coincidence that I have maple leaves and you have lilacs, same as the trees at our childhood homes?”

Aurora frowned. “Nothing these two did was a coincidence. Obviously, Sebastian told them everything about us, even down to the last detail. What’s inside?”

He opened it and lifted out another velvet bag, this one with the CWS logo embroidered on it.

Dawson slapped Kordell on the back. “Glad you stopped these killers. Dale is going away for a long time.”

“Bro, it was a team effort. We—”

A constable burst through the door, gasping for breath. “Sirs, the cruiser transporting the suspect was ambushed. Two masked figures extracted Dale Driscoll. He’s gone. Escaped.”

Aurora sucked in a breath, her heartbeat pounding in her already throbbing head.

Escaped?

No!

Kordell noted Aurora’s panicked expression, probably mirroring his own. “What do you mean, escaped? How?”

“A downed tree was blocking the highway. I was following the prisoner in my cruiser. A truck came out of nowhere and rammed into Rain’s vehicle. It flipped on its side before tumbling into the embankment. Two armed suspects started shooting, pinning me down. I couldn’t get to Rain or Abrams. One suspect extracted Mr. Driscoll from the cruiser, and the other kept their weapon trained on me. They fled in the truck. It happened so fast, I barely had time to call it in.”

Hill squeezed the man’s shoulder. “Calm down. How long ago did this happen?”

“Thirty minutes. I tried calling your phone, but it kept going to voice mail. I waited until the ambulance and backup came before heading here.”

“Signals in the wilderness are spotty.”

“Are Constables Rain and Abrams okay?” Aurora eased herself upright.

“Paramedics Rand and Leveen were treating them when I left to come here. They were alive but appeared to be in serious condition.” The constable leaned against the banister.

“Constable, we appreciate you coming to tell us. Let’s you and I head back to the scene.” Wheeler turned to Hill. “Find Nadine and ask her to come too.”

“On it. I’ll put out a BOLO for Driscoll.” Hill unclipped his phone. “They can’t have gotten far.”

Wheeler and the constable rushed out the door.

Hayley approached. “I’d like to go to the scene too. That okay, Staff Sergeant Hill?”

“Of course. We need all the help we can get.”

Kordell frowned. He didn’t like his sister putting herself in danger. “Dawson, you go with her and get Preach praying. We need to find Driscoll before he makes good on his promise to make us pay.”

“Copy.” Dawson followed Hayley out the door.

Aurora dropped back into her chair, gripping the armrests. “I want to know who’s helping them now. Sebastian and Jade are dead, so who is it? Hired thugs?”

“Good question.” Hill pointed to the stairs. “I’m going to help those left here. Kordell, can you take Aurora to the hospital to get checked out? I’ll have another constable come and escort you there. I don’t want either of you unprotected.”

“Of course. Good to take my gun?” Kordell gestured toward where it lay on the floor.

“Was it discharged, son?”

“No.”