Maggie swallowed, gaze going to the water beside them. Someone had killed her mother. Drugged her. Drowned her in this very river.
“So you’re killing me the same way she was killed?” The thought made ice creep into her veins.
A sadistic smile curved Nel’s lips as she rowed. “You’redoing this because you can’t handle the fact that your mother killed herself to escape her life with you. Your aunt might have said the words, but it’s something you’ve always wondered. And after Lilith spent years telling you how worthless you were, it finally sank in that she was right all along. You bring nothing good to anyone’s life.”
Another tug at the ropes. She was almost out. “What’swrongwith you?”
“The doctors thought it was borderline personality disorder. Whatever the hell that means. All I know is that I become a bit obsessive about certain things. And your life is one of them.”
Maggie’s life had become Nel’s obsession…and Maggie hadn’t seen it. Ethan hadn’t seen it. No one had.
Nel reached into her pocket and pulled out a syringe. “I have a high dose of fast-acting antipsychotic in here. It’ll make you nice and sleepy. Maybe a bit disoriented. Then I’ll untie you and push you in and watch you drown. How’s that sound?”
Ethan pacedthe front of Nel’s house.
Where the fuck was Ward? He didn’t have time to wait. Every minute counted. Every damn second.
“I’m breaking in.” Ethan stepped toward Nel’s front door.
Connor grabbed him. “He said he was around the corner.”
At that exact moment, a patrol car pulled up behind their trucks.
Ward climbed out. He moved so fucking slowly he almost waddled. Ethan wanted to grab the guy. Yell at him. Hit him. Hitsomething.
Ryan stepped in front of Ethan to talk to the sheriff. “Ward, we need to gain access to Janelle Prater’s house right now.”
Ward cleared his throat and gripped his belt as he continued to the front door. “Actually, son, that’s my and my deputy’s job.”
“The fuck it is,” Ethan growled.
Ward’s eyes narrowed on him. “You need to keep it together.”
“We sent you the footage. Nel pulled a gun on Maggie. She has her. You let us into this house or we’ll get in ourselves!”
Deputy Cox touched Ward’s shoulder. “Come on, Ward. Let them help.”
Ward’s jaw clenched, but he stepped up to the front door and knocked. A few seconds passed, and he knocked again. “This is Sheriff Ward. If anyone’s home, you need to open the door. If you don’t, we have enough cause to enter the premises.”
Silence.
Ward turned to his deputy. “Call the locksmith.”
“Fuck that.” Ethan pulled a small pick from his wallet and took a knee.
“Hey.” Ward tried to step forward, but Ryan moved in front of him.
“This is faster, and we need to access the house right now.”
A few seconds later, the lock clicked.
Ethan stepped inside, pulling his Glock from his holster, Connor not far behind. Ward tried to protest again, but Ethan left Ryan to deal with him as he moved through the house quickly. The living room and kitchen were clear.
He moved down the hall into the master bedroom. Empty. The connected bathroom and walk-in closet were the same.They weren’t just checking for Nel or Maggie though, they were looking for clues about where she might be.
He checked drawers and cupboards. He was about to leave when something sticking out from beneath the bed caught his attention. A box.
He pulled it out and set it on the bed before opening it.
