“Oh no!” Iz braced her hands on her shoulders. “Come on, let’s get you to the bathroom.”
They raced down the hall to the closest washroom as fast as she could manage on her bum knee.
Iz rushed inside with her and locked the door behind them.
Cassie dropped her weight on her good knee as she bent. “You can leav—” she said, trying to give Iz a get-out-of-jail-free card before she got sick, but she’d held back too long.
Foreboding wracked her mind as convulsions wracked her body. What did he have in store? And who could it be? The last two years flashed before her eyes—everything struggling for new context.
After an awful few moments, she sat back. The cold sink pedestal behind her back eased the sweat clinging to her.
“You okay?” Iz asked. She brushed back the damp hair fringing Cassie’s face.
She shook her head as tears drenched her face.
Iz pulled her into an embrace. “It’s going to be okay.”
She leaned back. “I know you’re just trying to be helpful, but how is it going to be okay? Joel tried the entire year to catch him. Officer Gonzales did too until he determined it a cold case—the culprit either gone or inactive. Like that was supposed to help.”
“Yes,” Iz said. Her voice was always calm in times of great distress, just like her brothers’. It was a wonder she didn’t go into law enforcement too. “But,” her florist best friend said, “he’s back now.”
Cassie narrowed her puffy eyes. “You say that like it’s a good thing.” She sniffed, her nose swollen shut.
“It is.” Iz smiled.
“Come again?”
“Because now they can catch him.”
“How?” She sniffed again. “What’s changed?”
“Now you have your suspects, and they’re all trapped here.”
I smiled. Sheknew. It was obvious the second I saw her beautiful, horrified face. But she didn’t know it wasme. How could she not? I mean, who else in this ridiculous group could it be?
At least she knew I was here and I wasn’t going anywhere. But she was breaking the cardinal rule—tsk,tsk,tsk—she’d told on me. Just like that stupid kid who couldn’t keep his mouth shut and got me kicked out of another foster home. Not that I cared. I could handle where they put me. I wasn’t soft like some of the other sissies who cried at night in their beds. I’ve always been tough. Hard. I had no choice, but it’s done me well. But that kid—Donnie Brown—he took me from the only person who understood me, so I paid him back and got away with it. I smiled at the delicious memory. Now they’d try to take Cassie from me, but I wouldn’t allow it. Instead, they’d pay. Just as Donnie Brown had.
Just as Nat and Brady had. Brady I felt half bad for. The dumb lug was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then again, so was Nat, but her death was a long time coming. Always so nosey. Asking questions. Watching.
None of that mattered now. All that mattered was me and Cassie. And we’d be leaving together as soon as I took care of a little business.
I’d be missed, but I wouldn’t be away long. We’d made a pledge. Just the two of us—thick as blood. We’d never abandon each other as so many had abandoned us. I’d find her again. I always did, but Iwasleaving here with Cassie.
Too bad she had a thing for Joel. I hated to ruin her happiness of all people, but there was no choice.Joel Brunswick won’t leave this lodgealive.
Fifteen
“WAS THAT THE SIDE DOOR?”Izzy asked at the muffled bang. She leapt to her feet and cracked open the bathroom door.
“Iz, be careful,” Cassie said as her bestie opened the door and peered out. He was one of them. He could be any of them. Her mind tracked through each guy in the group—a close-knit group originally made up of smaller cohorts. Her work crew, Iz’s friends, Talbot’s sports buddies, and their families.
She grappled to her feet, splashing ice-cold water on her face. Frigid temps aside, she needed the smack of clarity it brought.
“It’s Joel and Jayce,” Iz said, relief in her voice.
“What’s going on?”
“Brady,” Iz murmured.
