Chapter 59

“Turn into the gravel lot.”Kayla pointed to the right, toward the small three-car space not far from Sybil Barclay’s home. It was one of four trailhead lots in the expansive mountainside subdivision, where residents and their guests could pick up the six-mile loop trail.

Ash killed the engine. “What are you plotting?”

“About three-quarters of a mile down the trail, a footpath leads up the ridge to Sybil’s backyard.”

Many of the homeowners whose land backed up to the trail had created spurs for quick access. Some even went so far as to put signs with their family name inscribed on it at the intersection, demarcating the footpath as private.

“Want to tell me why we’re visiting Sybil through the rear gate?” he asked as they exited the vehicle.

Stepping out of the quiet SUV and into the concert arena of a thousand screaming insects forced Kayla to adjust the volume of her voice. “She has a guesthouse on the property. It’s secluded and easily protected.”

“A place to hold your mom?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m still not convinced Sybil had anything to do with all of this. But I’m pragmatic enough to realize that if she is guilty of murder and kidnapping, one of the most likely places she could stash Mom would be her guesthouse.”

Kayla didn’t allow herself to consider why Sybil would hide Jillian away rather than kill her, like Vicky.

“Let’s take a look.” Ash opened the liftgate of his SUV and handed her a Maglite after replacing the clear lens with a red one. “This reduces our chances of being detected and preserves our night vision.” He lifted a tactical belt weighted down by extra magazines and a large knife from a bin and fastened it around his hips.

The sight made Kayla long for her armored vest, though she took comfort in the handgun cradled at the V of her lower back and the extra clip shoved in her back pocket.

“Don’t forget to silence your phone,” he said.

“Already done.”

He closed the liftgate. “Ready?”

She nodded, and they set off down the trail.

The loud crunch of their shoes against the gravel did nothing to muffle the crickets who seemed to be following them. As it turned out, a half-moon lit up the forest, making their flashlights unnecessary.

Five minutes into their hike, Ash wove his fingers between hers. “We need to keep an eye out for black bears. This is about the time they emerge from their dens.”

His warning conjured images of the many photos Sybil had taken of bears in her yard over the years. Although black bear attacks against humans were rare, they did occur, especially when mama bear felt her cubs were in danger. And this time of the year was prime baby season.

Rather than worrying about running into wildlife, Kayla focused on the warmth of Ash’s hand. She took comfort from his strength and solid presence at her side. Other than his verbal skirmishes with Zeke—and her—he was one of the most steady, unflappable people she knew.

Whatever awaited them at the top of the hill, they would get through it together.

From the base of the spur to where it terminated at the back of Sybil’s lot, the elevation rose a hundred and fifty calf-burning feet. They crouched behind a set of landscape boulders to catch their breath and give Ash a chance to catalogue his surroundings. Kayla had been here so often she could practically sleepwalk her way around the property.

To their right, about twenty feet from the main house, sat Sybil’s two-thousand-square-foot guesthouse and a much smaller toolshed.

The guesthouse’s stone and lumber fa?ade was a near replica of her aunt’s home. None of the exterior lights were on, which was odd, and the interior was dark but for the upper story bedroom and bathroom combo. She watched the curtained window for a familiar feminine silhouette, but Jillian never appeared.

“There’s a guard at the rear door,” Ash whispered.

Kayla dropped her gaze. For a moment, she saw only a deep penetrating darkness. Nothing distinct. Until a slight movement separated one shadow from the rest.

The man was massive and he appeared to be kitted out as if he were in a war zone. Kayla’s heart thunked in the well of her chest. He was guarding someone or something important inside that building.

“Stay here,” Ash said.

“Where are you going?”

“To see how many guards are around front.”

“What does it matter?” She pointed at the guard’s long gun. “We won’t get within ten feet of the building without being mowed down.”

“I like to know what I’m up against.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “I don’t suppose you’ll hike back to the vehicle while I assess things here.”

“Not a chance.”

He clipped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Do not move from this space, no matter what you see or hear.” He pressed his lips to hers. “Promise me.”

“Too many variables, Agent.” She plucked his fingers from her chin and kissed his knuckles. “Hurry back.”

“A dozen hairs on my head just turned bone white.” He squeezed her hand in reassurance. “Stay low.”

She watched him melt into the forest before returning her attention to the guesthouse. The light remained on upstairs. Still no signs of life.

Her back pocket vibrated, and Kayla backed down the hill until she could no longer see the house. Only then did she pull out her phone, dim the display light, and check her text message.

Liv: where’d you go?

Her BFF must have visited her suite and found it empty.

Kayla: To confront Sybil about Rohan’s findings.

Liv: ur joking

Kayla: Snuck in back way.

Liv: ash with u?

Kayla: Yes. Armed guard outside guesthouse.

Liv: wtf

Kayla: Protecting something? Or keeping someone inside. Mom?

Liv: where’s ash?

Kayla: Doing recon.

Liv: zeke’s going to blow a gasket.

Kayla: I had to come.

Liv: i know but still don’t like. stay safe. keep me updated.

Kayla: Will do.

She slid the phone into her pocket and scrabbled back to her hiding spot to keep watch. What she saw stopped her heart mid-beat.

A light now illuminated much of the downstairs and a dark-haired woman dressed in red silk pajamas and matching robe opened the slider.

She knew that face. She knew those PJs.

“Mama.”

Tears gathered in the corners of Kayla’s eyes at the sight of her uninjured mother. The urge to call out to her vibrated through every sinew in her body, but she tamped down her heart’s desire to give her brain the airspace to think.

She would shoot Ash a text, confirming her mother’s presence. Together, they would develop a plan for freeing her. Once they secured Jillian, she would call her father and let him know they were bringing her home.

The process to create her mental to-do list took no more than three seconds. Long enough for the guard to leave his station and move to the open door where his prisoner stood.

He said something to Jillian, and she laughed.

Kayla’s hand paused in the act of reaching for her phone.

Laughed?

Instead of keeping her prisoner, the guard was there for her protection. Why?

The sour taste of betrayal climbed up Kayla’s throat.

“No, Mama,” she whispered. “Not you, too.”