“Where is Scout?” I was anxious to see her. “And Landon?”
Gunner’s smile dissipated. “He stayed at the inn to keep Steve busy. He wasn’t happy about it, but it was our only option.”
“We knew this was going to turn bloody,” Evan explained. He straightened and then let his full weight fall on Greg, who grunted as he was slammed harder into the ground. “Until you went missing, it never occurred to me that Millie might be involved. I’m sorry.”
“Millie was involved,” I said, “but she didn’t go full-on evil. She didn’t realize what he was until things were already in motion.”
“I thought she was supposed to be as smart as Tillie,” Gunner said.
“They’re not the same. Close, but not duplicates.” I shook my head. “Where is Millie?”
“Scout will bring her,” Gunner replied. “She has the naiad. We ran into her when we were about to start searching the woods. The naiad led us directly to you.”
“We need to send the naiad across. Millie too. Scout will have to open the door.”
“The naiad wants to kill the warlock first,” Evan said. “I talked things over with her. I explained about the magic, and how maybe it was best to let the other humans go. She reluctantly agreed. In exchange for him.” He nudged the back of Greg’s head with his elbow. “Seems like a fair trade.”
It wasn’t the worst offer I’d heard, but there was a problem. “If we let her kill Greg, there will always be questions about what happened out here … and at the inn.”
“What’s your solution?” Evan asked.
“I need to talk to the naiad.” I was resigned. “I’m not sure she’ll agree with my plan.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“Then we’ll have to let her kill him.”
Greg struggled against Evan. “I will end you,” he threatened.
“If she does agree to your plan?” Gunner asked.
“Then Greg here might be subject to a fate worse than death. I’m hoping she’ll go for it.”
“Well, let’s find out.” Evan effortlessly stood and lifted Greg by the back of his shirt as if he was a duffel bag. He’d used Greg’s belt to secure his hands behind his back. “Scout and the naiad are at the lake with Millie.”
SCOUT WAS PACING THE CLEARINGwhen we emerged from the trees. Her eyes went to me first, and she visibly relaxed. Then she focused on Greg, who was still being carried like a duffel bag.
“I see the douche is contained.” She crouched down to look at Greg, who was practically foaming at the mouth, and grinned. “You have no idea the things I’m going to do to you.”
“Give him a tail,” Millie suggested, again reminding me of Aunt Tillie.
“A tail sounds fun.” Scout had one of those faces that promised mayhem. “How about a little pig tail?”
“I will kill you,” Greg hissed.
Scout patted him on the head. “Can I keep him as a pet?”
“As much as I would like you to give him a tail, I have something else in mind.” I turned to the naiad, who was loitering at the edge of the clearing. “I know you want to kill him.”
“Iamgoing to kill him. He’s earned it.”
“We need him,” I countered. “We need someone to pin the deaths on. We can say that he did it for business purposes. I’ll let Landon figure out that part. We can modify his memory and make him think he really did it.”
The naiad shook her head. “He must pay for what he did to my sister.”
“He will pay. He’ll never be free again. He’ll be locked in a federal prison.”
“He has magic. He’ll let himself out.”
