She looked at Nick, who gave the slightest nod. The message was clear: do what he says for now, but don’t give up.
Nick squared his shoulders and removed his coat. Gina and the others followed suit.
“I’m sorry,” Kelsey said to Nick as she began wrapping the rope around his wrists.
“I know you didn’t expect this,” Nick said quietly, though Gina could hear the strain in his voice. “It’s not your fault.”
But it was Kelsey’s fault, at least partially. Her choices had led them here. Her decision to steal files, to use their running group as cover, to play games with dangerous people. Every step had brought them closer to this moment.
“Tighter,” George ordered. “I want those knots secure.”
Kelsey frowned as she pulled the rope tighter. Nick didn’t make a sound, but Gina could see the pain in his face.
“That’s good. Joe? Grab a chair. Bring it over. I want Nick tied to the chair.”
Joe shook his head but grabbed one of the old wooden chairs they’d been using as clothes hangers. As he moved it next to Nick, he said, “Sorry about this, buddy.”
“Have a seat, Nick,” George said conversationally. “Make yourself comfortable.” He gestured toward Kelsey. “Tie his ankles to the chair.”
Gina’s lips went tight. If Nick managed to get his hands free, he’d still have his feet to deal with, making the time to freedom even longer.
“Excellent. Now the women. Together, over there.” George pointed to the opposite corner of the room.
Gina was herded with Brooke toward the far wall. Each step widened the gap between her and Nick, and she knew that was George’s plan. Divide and conquer. Keep them apart so they couldn’t work together.
“Please,” Brooke said as Kelsey approached with more rope. “We’re friends. We’ve been friends since you moved to Irma.”
“I know,” Kelsey said, fresh tears falling. “I know, and I’m so sorry. For all of this. For everything.”
She tied Brooke’s hands behind her back first, then Gina’s. The rope was rough against Gina’s wrists, already chafing her skin, then Kelsey added a string of rope connecting the womenwith their backs to each other. Gina was helpless. She was a nurse, trained to help people, to take action in emergencies. Being tied up and unable to move went against every instinct she had.
As Kelsey leaned in to tighten the rope, Gina knew she needed to take a chance—take a chance that Kelsey really did feel bad about what was happening. A chance that Kelsey knew George wouldn’t let her get out of there alive either. “Your bear spray,” Gina whispered.
Kelsey stopped moving for a fraction of a beat but said nothing. Did she hear? Did she understand the message? Gina had no way of knowing for sure as Kelsey moved away, the job of securing Gina and Brooke completed.
“You too,” George said to Joe. “Against that wall.”
Joe didn’t argue. He walked to where George indicated and let Kelsey tie his hands behind his back. His face was pale, but he seemed more resigned than terrified, like he’d already accepted that this wasn’t going to end well.
George surveyed his handiwork with satisfaction. “Much better. Now, everyone stays put while I think through the logistics.”
“Logistics of what?” Gina asked, though she was afraid she knew.
“Of cleaning up this mess. It’s a lot, but it’s not impossible. Especially with a convenient natural disaster to explain what happened.”
The storm was still raging outside, and Gina realized George was right. Bodies found after a blizzard, in an abandoned building miles from civilization...it would look like a tragic accident. Like hikers who got caught in bad weather and couldn’t survive the cold. Even if there was evidence of foul play, chances were good they’d end up in the cold case files.
“You’re insane,” she said.
“I’m practical. There’s a difference.” George walked to the windows and peered through one of the cracks in the boards. “The storm should provide good cover. It might even help with disposal.”
The casual way he discussed their murders made Gina’s stomach turn. But it also clarified something for her. This wasn’t about the flash drive anymore. This was about George’s survival. He couldn’t risk them identifying him or talking about what they’d witnessed.
Which meant he was going to kill them all. She glanced at Kelsey. She was still free, holding the remainder of the rope in one hand and the knife in the other. Gina kept her eyes on her friend, willing her to look in her direction, but Kelsey’s gaze was firmly on the wooden floor.
Gina tested the ropes around her wrists, trying to find any give in the knots. But Kelsey had done a thorough job, probably out of fear of what George would do if the bindings weren’t secure enough.
Across the room, Nick was doing the same thing. She could see him covertly working at his restraints, trying to find a weakness.
