***
As Shane’s SUV reached a wooded area along Wilkins Dam Road, Max said, “Slow down.” He pointed up the hill into the forest. “The cabin’s up the hill. You can’t see it from here.”
They passed the chained driveway and the parking spot where he and Olivia had been when the truck driver had interrupted their frantic grappling. Then he’d still thought she was hiding something from him. Now he knew what it was, and pain and guilt ripped through him like whirling knife blades when he thought about leaving her alone at the farm.
“She said they parked in the woods,” he related, “but maybe it’s better to pull up on the other side of the highway.”
Shane kept going, saw a gravel road on the other side that led into the trees and waited for a car to pass before turning. Shane pulled up far enough so that they couldn’t be seen from the road.
Max got out, relieved that he was a lot steadier on his feet than he had been at the hospital. He was in for a major crash later. But he’d worry about that when he had the time.
As they hurried up the hill, Max filled his friend in.
“When Olivia and I were here, a security guard was waiting for us when we came out of the cabin.”
“Nice. I guess one of us can hold him at gunpoint.”
“Yeah. Hopefully, we won’t meet up with any guards.” Max dragged in a breath and let it out. “The cabin’s probably an old maintenance facility. Olivia and I got inside by pulling up some loose siding in the back. Inside there’s a trapdoor that leads to a tunnel and an underground room. I’m thinking he’d be down there with her because it’s a good defensive position.”
“And you’re going to get in there how?” Shane asked.
“I’m going to have to rush him.”
“Hard to do if you’re in a tunnel on your hands and knees.”
Max made a sound that was part agreement and part anger. “You have a better suggestion?”
“Flush him out.”
***
Troy’s words and his tone made Olivia realize how dangerous this game was. But did she have a choice? Was there any other way to get out of this underground room alive?
And what was he thinking? He’d been on a killing rampage that had started small and built over the years. He’d just as good as told her he’d killed Tommy Larson. Did he think he was going to get away with that? Maybe it made sense to him—but they’d already talked to that detective, Archie Hamilton, about the two of them going down to Baltimore. Maybe Hamilton would figure it out.
But that wasn’t going to help her now. She had to make a decision, and quickly.
“You know I’ve been looking for a long time for a strong man who could protect me.”
“Are you trying to say I’m it?”
She kept her gaze on him, trying not to look calculating. On the face of it, there was no logic to her wanting to hook up with him. But she thought he was egotistical enough to eat up her praise of him.
“You know you are. Look at how you’ve managed your life all these years—making sure you were always on top. I want to be there with you.”
He laughed, and she didn’t know if he was agreeing with her or laughing at her attempt to convince him that she was on his side.
“You’re on top of your profession,” he said.
“Yes, I make a lot of money. With your talent, we’d make a great team. The guy who manages me is an idiot. I’m sure you can do better.”
“I’ll bet I could. But I don’t want to move to New York. I like it here.”
“I could come back and forth.”
“Yeah.” He tipped his head to the side. “You’re being very cooperative.”
She raised one shoulder. “You drugged me last time I was here,” she said. “That’s why I didn’t know what had happened. But really you don’t have to do that. I’ve wanted to make love to you for a long time.”
“Then why didn’t you let me take you and Angela home after the party?” he shot back.
“You know why. Because I was afraid of my father. He was really strict with me. If he found out where I’d been, he would have gone ballistic.”
“That does make sense,” he agreed.
“But he’s dead, so he has no control over me now. Why don’t you make love with me, and we can both find out what we missed all those years ago. I mean, was it really fun fucking a woman who was half unconscious?”
“It had its points,” he murmured.
“Well, I’m an experienced woman, now, and I think you’ll like me better awake,” she answered, forcing herself to keep up the seductive conversation because it was the only way she could see to save her life. And maybe it wasn’t even going to work.