Chapter 134

ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FOUR

Cord stifled his thoughts about Lola and the baby. One crisis at a time. At the moment, all that mattered was finding Ellie and those kids. The sheriff's phone buzzed and he answered, placing the caller on speaker.

"Barbara Thacker snuck out of the hospital," the deputy said. "Security is searching the hospital and grounds."

Bryce cursed. "Keep me posted."

"He may have her," Cord muttered.

Bryce nodded, his jaw clenched as he barreled around a sharp curve.

Ten minutes later, they reached the chicken farm.

Cord pointed to the hill. "There's the van."

Bryce flipped off the siren as they approached, then pulled his gun as he parked. They eased out and checked the van. No one was inside.

Wind whipped across the mountain, rustling trees and tree limbs cracked. Cord noticed footprints leading toward the concrete building and gestured to the sheriff to follow. The building lacked windows, but the heavy exterior door was unlocked.

Cord reached for it with Bryce behind, his gun drawn.

They started in but a second later, the missing girls and Barbara Thacker ran toward them, crying.

Cord dropped to his knees and caught Ivy and Bryce caught Mazie.

"Shh, it's okay," Cord assured her softly. "We're the good guys, here to help."

"I'm the sheriff," Bryce said, pointing to his badge.

The girls were borderline hysterical and Barbara tried to soothe them. "Detective Reeves is in there with him."

"Take them to the police car," Bryce said.

Barbara nodded, clutched both girls' hands and they ran toward it.

Cord bolted back toward the building and ran inside. Bryce had stopped to secure the kids and Barbara in his squad car.

Ellie was on the floor on her back. Huller was holding her down with a gun aimed at her temple.

One move and he could kill her.

"Get off her," Cord growled.

The man jerked his head toward the door, his eyes crazed. "Step back or I'll kill her."

He was going to kill her anyway. Cord raised his hands in surrender mode. "Look, I'm not armed. Let her go and you can get out of here."

Ellie's gaze shot to Cord's and she gave a tiny shake of her head.

"I mean it," Cord said. "I'm offering you an out. Best deal you're gonna get today."

Indecision streaked Huller's face and Cord saw a war in his eyes.

"Get out," he snarled.

"If you kill her and me, you'll never escape. You'll spend the rest of your life in a cell."

Ellie gave him a silent look, a warning she was going to fight. Huller growled a sound that mimicked a lion's roar, his hand shaking as the gun wavered over Ellie's face.

Cord saw red.

Ellie suddenly threw the man off her, her hand struggling to retrieve the gun. Cord raced to them just as Ellie knocked it from his hand. Cord threw Huller down and onto his side.

Déjà vu of the abuse he'd endured himself struck Cord. Images of the dead girls fired his rage. Balling his hand into a fist, he pounded the man's face and punched his gut.

"Cord?" Ellie pushed up and stood behind him now. "Cord!"

"Go outside with the girls," he said in a guttural growl.

Ellie hesitated.

"Don't argue, El, for once just do what I say."

She gave him an understanding look as if to tell him to do what he needed to do, then finally turned and ran outside.

Cord stared at Huller. He'd lost consciousness now. Images of the twins' bloody bodies and the blood on Ellie's face taunted him.

He wanted to kill the bastard with his own weapon. Watch the blood leak from his sorry body.

Watch him take his last breath so he would never hurt anyone else again.