"Looks that way. State police are watching the highways, but if she switched vehicles or doubled back on back roads, she could be anywhere." Diaz paused. "I've got units patrolling Copper Moon tonight. Extra eyes on your cottage, on Hank's place, on the shop. She won't get close without us knowing."
"Thanks, Diaz."
"Get some sleep if you can. Tomorrow we regroup and figure out our next move."
Brian hung up and looked at the others. "Carla's in the wind. Headed north on Route 17 around six. Could be anywhere by now."
"Or she could have doubled back," Colby said. "Made it look like she was leaving, then circled around."
"Diaz has units watching. If she's still here, they'll spot her."
Tessa stood, her arms wrapped around herself. "So we wait. Again."
"For tonight." Brian crossed to her and took her hands. "Tomorrow, we come up with a plan. A real plan. We stop reacting and start acting."
"What kind of plan?"
"I don't know yet. But Carla thinks she's the hunter here. Maybe it's time to remind her that she's not the only one who can set a trap."
Tessa met his eyes. Something shifted in her expression. The fear was still there, but underneath it, he saw something else. Resolve.
"Okay," she said. "Tomorrow. We make a plan."
The group broke up slowly. Colby and Sabrina headed home with promises to be back first thing in the morning. Bree started cleaning up coffee mugs while Hank double-checked the locks on every door and window.
Brian and Tessa retreated to the guest room. Neither of them expected to sleep, but they lay down anyway, wrapped around each other in the dark.
"I'm tired of being afraid," Tessa whispered.
"I know."
"I came here to heal. To start over. And instead I'm hiding in someone else's house while a crazy woman takes pictures of me through windows."
"That's not your fault."
"I know that too." She was quiet for a moment. "But I'm done letting her dictate my life. Tomorrow, we take control back."
Brian pulled her closer. "Whatever you need. Whatever it takes. I'm with you."
"I know." She pressed a kiss to his chest. "That's the only reason I can do this."
They lay in silence, listening to the house settle around them. Somewhere outside, a police cruiser rolled slowly down the street, its headlights sweeping across the window.
Tomorrow, they'd make a plan. Tomorrow, they'd fight back.
Tonight, they held on to each other and waited for dawn.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Tessa woke with the plan already forming in her head.
She'd barely slept, turning the problem over and over in the dark while Brian dozed fitfully beside her. Carla was watching. Carla was waiting. Carla held all the cards because she controlled when and where things happened.
So take that away from her.
By the time the sun came up, Tessa knew what she wanted to do. The only question was whether she could convince everyone else.
They gathered in Hank's kitchen after breakfast. Same group as last night: Brian, Hank, Bree, Colby, Sabrina. Coffee cups in hand, faces tired but alert.
