Page 74 of Rascal

I drove through Deadwood, guided by the sat nav as it took me down Route 85 and towards the Broken Boot Gold Mine. The sky was darkening with a storm as I parked up and gazed at the mines.

Only one other car was here. Kira’s, I guessed.

Warily, I headed toward the red wooden building and saw the door open. There were some scuff marks in the dirt, and I bet Mia Charlotte had put up a fight. I passed through the entrance and made my way to the mine opening.

“Kira! I’m here!” I yelled. My voice bounced back at me in a layer of echoes. Kira didn’t reply.

“Kira!” I shouted again. I flinched at the echoes, but nobody responded to my call. I began marching down the tunnel, calling out every so often. After ten minutes, I was starting to think this was a wild goose chase.

Then Kira finally replied. “Keep coming.”

I obeyed, holding up my phone as a torch. It was pitch black around me, and I stumbled several times. A minute later, I emerged into a small cave. My gaze hit Mia Charlotte first. She appeared defiant and, apart from a bruise on her face, unhurt.

I sensed movement behind me and shifted as a plank of wood landed where I’d been standing. Kira appeared out of the darkness, and she looked crazed. Christ. There’d be no reasoning with her.

“Let Mia Charlotte go,” I said. “This is between us, Kira.”

“My name’s not Kira. It’s Hallie. You’re Kira!” she screamed. Oh crap, Kira was worse than we’d thought.

“Fine, Hallie. Let the girl go, Mia Charlotte needs to return home,” I replied.

“No. She stays with me,” Kira snarled.

“Mia Charlotte’s an innocent kid,” I argued. Maybe not the wisest thing, but I’d nothing to lose.

“The fuck she is. I witnessed what she and those other animals did,” Kira hissed.

We were slowly circling each other. Once I was sure I was in line with Mia Charlotte, I stepped back.

“You can’t hurt her, not if you’re in love with Rascal. You know Rascal adores these children,” I replied calmly. Little hands latched onto my jeans, and I reached behind and patted her arm.

“Rascal? He stole Shane’s life. He needs to pay too and give Shane his life back.”

Okay, so batshit crazy times two.

“Fine. But Shane won’t like a child getting hurt either. You know that, Hallie,” I replied.

“Who do you think you are?” Kira screamed.

“Someone who’s worried about an innocent kid and you. Shane is waiting for you out there.”

“Liar! Rascal replaced Shane. So, I have to kill you to make Shane come back.” Kira swung the beam again.

From somewhere in the mine came a rumbling. That didn’t sound good.

“Hallie, where did you get that plank?” I demanded as I began inching Mia Charlotte around with me.

“What does it matter? You’re not getting out alive!”

“Just let Mia Charlotte go,” I almost begged. Was I facing where I’d entered? A few more steps, maybe.

“She’ll die too because of you!”

“Why? Mia Charlotte is innocent!”

“Because she’s working with you to steal my identity.” Kira swung again.

There. I thought I was about level with the exit.