I glanced at the map on Rob’s phone. “On 104, heading to the old Juniper Canning warehouse. Eden marked two options on her laptop, but I don’t know where she headed first.”
“Listen, the woman who came after you is named Sandra Billings. She’s Isaiah Campbell’s sister-in-law. He called us about ten minutes ago.”
“Shit. Are they working together?”
“No. His wife said her sister had been talking about devils and games opening the gates of hell. She thought it was just senseless rambling.”
“Jesus,” I muttered. “What about the kid?”
I heard muffled talking in the background, then Rose’s voice gentled. “It was Eden’s niece, Eve. She was spending her school break with a friend in town. They played some Dungeons & Dragons, I guess, and she was curious about your store. She was going to come in, but she saw you closing up and thought she’d missed her chance. That’s when she saw her aunt show up and hit you over the head.”
Her niece had saved my life just as surely as Eden had. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, hoping the two of them would be able to get to know one another when this was done.
Rose murmured some directions to somebody, then said, “Eve just got home today, and when the pastor from Cortland called Isaiah to say he thought Eden was in trouble, Eve told her parents everything. Isaiah called us immediately.”
Rob sent me a quick glance with his eyebrows raised. Maybe Isaiah Campbell had some redeeming qualities, after all.
“Look, we’re on our way to you. Donotdo anything stupid, you hear me?” Rose said sharply, but I wasn’t going to waste time arguing.
Eden was in trouble, and we might just be the only ones who could reach her in time.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Eden
Thefirstlocationwasa bust. It looked like an old barn, wide open inside and missing at least half of its roof. There was no sign anyone had been there in years. I let adrenaline carry me through most of the trip out to the second warehouse, then doubt began to settle in.
What the hell was I thinking? I didn’t have a weapon on me, hadn’t told anyone where I was going. A dozen missed calls and even more texts from Adelaide and Milo flashed across my phone screen as I turned down a driveway that was only distinguishable now by the wooden plow spikes lining it.
As I pulled up beside the warehouse, I tried to peer into the hazy windows, searching for signs of life. Between the dark clouds drowning the last of the weak afternoon sunlight and the falling snow, there wasn’t much to see. No other cars wereparked outside the dingy gray building, no steam rising from a chimney, no lights shining from within.
It looked utterly deserted.
“I’m an idiot,” I whispered.
When my phone rang a second later, I answered it. This was a stupid plan, and I was now sitting half an hour from home while the roads got worse and worse.
“Milo, I’m sorry,” I rushed, “but I—”
“Eden, where are you?”
“Sitting outside the old Juniper Canning warehouse on 104. I’m going to turn around and head back now.”
After some muffled murmurs, Milo said, “No, stay right where you are. We’re almost there. The police might beat us to you, though, so don’t freak out if they show up first.”
I stared blindly at the swirling snow coating the windshield. “The police?”
“They spoke to your brother. Listen, Eden. I want you to stay on the line with me until somebody gets there, okay? Are you warm enough?”
“I’m fine, Milo. Is that Rob I hear?”
The smile in Milo’s voice settled the fluttering nerves in my belly. “Yeah, Rob’s driving. We’ll be there soon.”
“Did he have any thoughts on the shop?
“Yes, he thinks you’re a genius. He’ll work up some plans for joining the rooms and we can take that to Jim.”
“Good,” I murmured, dropping my gaze to the steering wheel. “That’s good. Are you sure I shouldn’t head back toward town? There’s no one here—”
