Page 111 of Is Anyone Listening?
Jessica gave me a questioning look. I shook my head, putting my finger to my lips, because I could hear someone coming. I really hoped it was Finn.
Then a branch snapped. Our hands were still linked, and we squeezed our fingers together. I wished I could see what was happening, who was coming. I desperately wanted to hear Finn say we were safe, but it wasn't his voice that broke the quiet.
"I know you're here, Jessica," Tyler said. "I want to help you. There are people coming to look for you, people who will say they are here to save you, but they're lying."
Jessica bit down on her lip as she looked at me. I gazed back into her eyes, willing her to believe me. Thankfully, she seemed to understand that she had to trust me. She had to stay silent.
"Marcus confessed last week," Tyler continued. "You don't have to be afraid anymore. It's time to come back. The company wants to thank you for your honesty and your courage."
Tyler was good. He sounded believable, almost trustworthy. If I didn't know better, I might have thought he was telling the truth.
I heard more footsteps. Tyler was circling…hunting…
I could see him now through the underbrush—a shadow moving between the trees, gun in hand. He was sweeping the area methodically, professionally.
He was also getting closer to our hiding spot. Another few steps, and he'd see us. And once he saw me, he would know he couldn't keep lying.
Tyler stopped about ten feet away, scanning the forest. Then his eyes landed on our hiding spot, and a cold smile spread across his face.
"There you are. Ah, you have a new friend, Jessica. Isn't that interesting..."
He raised his gun, pointing it directly at us.
"Stand up. Both of you. Slowly." He paused. "Or I can shoot you now."
We had to buy time until Finn could find us. Jessica and I exchanged another look and then rose to our feet.
Tyler met my gaze. "Impressive, Cassidy. I thought I was way ahead of you. How did you find out?"
"Nathan woke up and told Finn about his conversation with you. You tried to kill Nathan, didn't you?"
"It was easy enough to spike his drink with all the drugs he had lying about. It's a pity he didn't die, but I didn't have time to waste making sure that happened." Tyler paused. "But Nathan didn't know where Jessica was. I had to track her here. How did you figure it out?"
"Ellen told me."
"Really? So, grandma knew all along, and she came through for you," he drawled.
"Yes. I also know you're not Marcus's brother, Tyler. You're also not an architect. Those drawings in the house—you didn't do them, did you?"
"The real Tyler did."
"Why go to such lengths to pretend you were an architect?"
"It was a good cover. And I kind of liked being an architect for a while. You should understand why I did it; you had your own cover story."
"It wasn't as far from the truth as yours. You lied to me. About everything. And the worst lie was that you wanted to bring Jessica back safely so she could help your brother when you never had any intention of doing that." I could hardly believe I'd once trusted this man, once thought about spending the night at his house. Thank God I hadn't done that. "Why did you pretend to work with me? Why warn me about the inn? Why get involved with me at all?"
"You were asking a lot of questions. I wanted to stay close in case you found a lead to Jessica before I did. "
"Did you run me off the road?"
"Why would I do that? You were helping me. That was Finn."
"No. Finn saved me. It must have been Jeff." I paused. "Jeff Holloway killed Natalie Warren. Did you know that?"
"No idea," he said casually. "But I never cared about her."
"Or about me. I thought we were friends."
