Page 51 of Deadly Revenge
“Let’s go over to Kessler and see what’s going on,” Josh said. “He may be the agent in charge, but I’m the undersheriff of this county.”
“I agree,” Maya said.
The trio went over to where they could see that Kessler was trying to complete a call on a cell phone. His face was flushed and there were circles under his eyes.
“Come on, come on, pick up,” he was muttering.
Maya knew then that they’d lost contact with Agent Bernardo.
“Damn it,” she muttered.
Josh didn’t say a word. Agent Ross was running his fingers through his hair while he paced back and forth muttering under his breath. Nick and Aaron looked cool as could be. They stood still, hands resting on their hips. Aaron pulled out his phone and read a message. Who was he talking to right now? Abigail?
“We need to go in,” Maya said to Kessler. “Now.”
“I’m waiting for the HRT guys to let me know if they found Hope.”
“Okay,” Maya said.
Kessler pushed a finger to his earpiece that connected to his radio. Then he stared down, muttered some choice words and kicked a rock. Maya wanted toknow what was happening. He took a deep breath and turned to the group of officers watching him.
“The team says there’s no sign of Hope,” he said.
“What about Bernardo?” Ross asked.
“They found him... he’s been shot in the head. They’re trying first aid, but he’s not responding.”
Maya tensed and released different muscle groups. She’d learned the technique from Dr. Meyers to help with anxiety. She peered out into the mountains where she’d always found peace. But lately, that peace kept getting shattered. Another person wouldn’t go home to their family tonight because of Abigail.
Maya’s chest tightened and her respiration increased from both frustration and sadness. She didn’t want Bernardo’s sacrifice to be for nothing. She and Juniper had to find Abigail before anyone else was hurt or killed. “Tell the team to not go anywhere else. Juniper, Josh and I are going in. We’re going to run a track.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Abigail held the gun to the kid’s back as they hiked along the trail to their next destination. Her partner had told her that he would do everything he could to keep anyone from knowing where they were headed. He’d give her time to regroup and figure out her next step.
She had to admit, there was a part of her that was about ready to shoot this snotty kid, leave town and forget about this plan. Her partner had also told her Eric had turned himself in and was in jail. He was a coward for doing that. He had to know he wouldn’t be allowed out again. Even though she wouldn’t be able to get Eric to come to her, maybe he’d finally get what was coming to him. Wouldn’t losing his granddaughter be revenge enough?
As she approached her next destination, her phone vibrated. She was hoping there would be a pocket of service at this place.
“Stop,” she ordered Hope. To her surprise, the girl listened. She pulled out the phone, read the message and knew then that she wasn’t leaving. Maya and her stupid mutt were tracking her. According to her partner, Maya had been following orders and listening to Kessler but now had finally shown hertrue colors and was doing what Abigail wanted—coming to her.
She smiled, texted a “thanks” back and put her phone in her pocket. Perfect. Just when she was about ready to give up, the universe came through for her.
“We’re going there,” Abigail said to Hope, pointing at an old lodge that was up ahead on a hill. The building was built in the style of the Stanley Hotel, but not as big. The American and Colorado flags were still flying out front. It was technically just off forest service land in a pocket of privately owned property. It also had cameras everywhere. Some were for security. Some were wildlife cams for guests. Each morning people could get up and see what type of animal had traipsed through the surrounding forest in the middle of the night.
Abigail didn’t care about mountain lions, bears, deer, elk or anything else four-legged that triggered the cameras. What she did care about was that she could see someone coming and prepare to fight them. Even better, the resort was empty from mandatory evacuations and according to her partner, left unlocked for firefighter access.
“We’re going to that lodge there. Walk faster,” Abigail said, prodding Hope with the gun. Hope peered back over her shoulder and gave her a crusty look that only a teenager could pull off. “Don’t get an attitude with me. Remember what happened last time.”
That seemed to get the girl to do what she wanted. The teen’s shoulders sagged and she trudged along asif she were going to her death. Well, maybe she was. Abigail really wasn’t into killing kids. She did have some standards, but if this snot-nosed girl kept disrespecting her, then she might make an exception—but not until Maya Thompson showed up. That’s when the fun would begin.
They went up the front steps of the lodge. The patio area had cushy chairs for tourists to sit out in the cool mountain air and read. That would be nice, except now the furniture was covered with soot and ash. Fire had a way of making everything dirty.
They went inside and Abigail made Hope go to a back room, no windows. She sat her down on a chair and pulled out her phone again. She typed in a text to her partner and then put the phone away.
She was lucky to have him and she knew it. He’d helped Abigail with no questions asked and been loyal for a long time. Why? She wasn’t completely sure, but Abigail knew she cared for him. When her mission was done and she had revenge, she had plans to flee. She wanted him to go with her. Would he? Or had he always had an ulterior motive too?
She couldn’t worry about that right now. Right now, she needed to lure Maya Thompson to her, kill her, get her revenge and then leave town. Only then would escaping and sipping a drink on a beach relax her.
