Sirens sounded and emergency vehicles careened down the road.
Abigail slipped her gun into her jacket pocket. “I called the authorities on my way here, just in case I didn’t win this. Anything for you, Laurel.” She smiled sadly. “He lied about everything, you know. I had no idea he was a killer, and whatever that was about dog fur makes no sense. Do you think dogs spoke to him? That he took orders from animals or something like that?”
Laurel couldn’t think of a thing to say. There was no evidence against Abigail, and there wouldn’t be. The woman was too smart. Plus, Aeneas had been in Robert’s house, so the man would’ve had access to the fur. Maybe Abigail was innocent? Laurel’s gut said otherwise, but that could be emotion talking.
The vehicles lurched to a stop, and Huck bounded out of the nearest one with Aeneas right behind him. Huck reached them, his gaze scouting the entire area for threats. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” Laurel said, relief flooding through her. A glimmer through the trees caught her eye. A piece of metal. “What’s that?”
Huck turned. He ducked his head. “I don’t know. There’s a trail, though.” He pivoted and walked between two tall pines, his long strides quickening as he grew closer to the rock face. “It’s a cargo container. Get a bolt cutter,” he bellowed.
An officer quickly ran up to them with a bolt cutter, and Huck took it.
Laurel ran through the snow, leaving a trail of blood from her neck. Her legs shook as she reached the white container. “Robert indicated she was dead,” she warned Huck.
His jaw tightened and he lifted the cutters to slice through the bolt. “Stand back.” He grabbed the door and pulled it open.
A gray blur burst out, covering his head as a naked Kate Vuittron kicked and punched him wildly.
“Whoa,” Huck yelled, wrapping both hands around her to stop the attack.
“Kate!” Laurel rushed to her. “You’re alive. You’re okay.” She immediately yanked off her coat.
Kate looked at her, eyes wild, hair flying. “Laurel?”
“Yes.” Laurel wrapped the coat around Kate. “Here you go. You’re safe.” She hugged her. “You’re safe.”
Kate hugged her back. “Oh, God.”
Huck yanked the blanket off his head. “You good?”
Kate smiled through tears. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”
“Great tackle,” Laurel said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get you to the hospital.”
“I’m just hungry,” Kate said wearily. “He didn’t have time to hurt me, but I’d love a burger. Or ice cream.”
They walked back through the trees, and Laurel looked up to find Abigail watching them, her unreadable gaze on Laurel’s arm over Kate’s shoulders. Laurel shivered.
Huck jogged up to their side. “An ambulance is just down the way.”
Movement scraped across icy rock. Laurel stumbled and lifted her head to see Robert Caine turn on the ground, gun in his hand, and fire at her.
Huck pivoted and threw himself in front of her, knocking both Laurel and Kate to the snowy ground. Blood burst from his body.
Robert groaned, blood dripped from his mouth, and his head dropped to the red snow in death.
Abigail slowly smiled.
“Huck!” Laurel yelled.
Chapter Forty-One
Laurel sat in the waiting area of the emergency room with Monty on one side of her and Walter on the other. Aeneas rested at her feet. The receptionist gave them the stink eye a couple of times, but she didn’t tell them to take the dog outside, so they pretended they didn’t see her.
Snowflakes and snowmen decorated the walls while somebody had expertly painted the windows with peaceful snow scenes. Christmas music played quietly through invisible speakers.
“Are you sure you shouldn’t be in a bed?” Walter asked Laurel.
