A spot between his shoulders tingled. He walked around the side of the cabin to the back. He tried the knob. The French doors were locked.
He knocked. “Maya! Hey, come on, don’t play!”
Even as he said the words, he knew she wouldn’t do that. He raced back to the cruiser.
The officer saw him coming and rolled the window down. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I hope. But Maya’s not coming to the door. Can you let me in?”
“Yeah, sure.” He climbed out and unlocked the front door.
Gideon pushed inside. “Maya?” It didn’t take long to search the small space and come up empty.
The officer stood in the kitchen with his hands on his hips. “She didn’t come out the front. She had to go out the back.”
“But why?” He raked a hand over his head. “And why do so without telling me?” He looked around, saw nothing out of place, and his heart settled somewhat. He checked her closet and found her coat gone. He went back to the kitchen. “Her hat and gloves are gone.”
“She left,” the officer said. “It’s the only explanation.”
“You’re right, but she would have said something. Why go out the back and not the front where she knew we were?” He ran a hand down his cheek. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“Maybe someone came and got her?”
“But she wouldn’t have left without telling me!” He paused. “Unless it was some kind of major medical emergency.” He eyed the officer. “I’m going to check the clinic. You mind staying here in case she comes back?”
“No, I don’t mind at all. This is where I’m supposed to beanyway, but can you at least come back and let me know if you found her?”
“Of course.” He sighed. “Or I’ll be back to get your help looking for her.”
He slammed out the front door and headed down the hill.
Ten
MAYASTUMBLED UPthe hill, guided by the woman pressing the gun into her back. “Where are we going?”
“Just walk.”
She’d been walking.
First out of the cabin with a very healthy Ellie Harland and then into the tree line where they were hidden from any prying eyes. Self-defense moves came to mind, but the woman’s finger had been on the trigger the last time Maya had been able to see the weapon. Doing something to cause her finger to twitch didn’t seem like a smart idea. So she played along while doing her best to keep her heart rate under control and her panic from flaring.
She’d survived a combat zone. She’d survived losing her best friend. She’d figure out how to survive this.Please,God,don’t let her killme. And thank you that it’s not snowing.
She rubbed her bare neck and could only pray someone found the necklace and came looking for her. The resort was big, but there weren’t that many hiding places. Places where someone could commit murder without screams being heard. And she planned to scream should it come down to it. Gideon should have noticed she was gone by now and would be looking for her. He’d find Vance and demand to know where she was.
“How does Vance fit into all of this?” Maya asked. “He wasso convincing and worried about you. Does he know what you’re doing?”
“Of course he knows. We’re in this together. He was supposed to grab you the first day we were here but wimped out and had astupidepisode over somestupidlimbs falling.” The disgust for her husband rang loud and clear. “He’s such a loser.”
“Then why stay with him?”
“Because he has money. And with your help, he’s going to have more.”
“I don’t understand. If you’re going to kill me, could I please know why?”
The gun dug into her right kidney and Maya winced. “Follow that little path to your right.”
Maya did so. “Where—”
