Chapter Sixty-One

I RECOGNIZED THE distinct headlights of Effie’s Mustang zooming through the night as we drove back toward the inn in Susan’s car. Susan must have seen her too, because she swiveled fast in her seat as I did, catching a mere glimpse of our friend in the other car. My heart lurched as my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and read the message, every typed letter sending zings of terror over my skin.

BG x 4 @ inn w N

When I looked up, Susan’s eyes were full of dread.

“Bad guys at the inn with Nick,” I deciphered. “Four of them.”

I didn’t have to tell Susan not to approach the house in the car. My hands were trembling as I got out. Susan’s breath in the night air was misting gold under one of few streetlamps lining the woods.

“We call Clay,” Susan said. “We call in everyone we can.”

“I can try,” I said. I dialed and started walking. Susan was right by my side, unquestioning of my decision to head toward the inn on foot without waiting for backup.

We couldn’t rely on help coming our way. If we were going to help Nick, we’d have to do it ourselves.