Her hands twisted together, and she gave a jerky nod. “I won’t give you any trouble. Alex is the only good thing left in my life now.” She stood and wobbled a bit, then tipped up her chin. “I’m ready.”
He’d already decided to put a bullet through her head rather than lock her in the outhouse and burn it down. A quick, easy death seemed the better way. She hadn’t deserved any of this, unlike her nosy daughter-in-law.
Marilyn started for the door, then turned with a pleading expression. “Don’t make any noise. I-I don’t want him to see it.”
Smart woman. She understood the situation he was in. “He won’t.”
Tears swam in her eyes, but she squared her shoulders and went out the door. He closed the door softly behind them. “Around back.”
She shuffled that way through the ankle-high grass. Insects chirped and wind rustled the trees. He really didn’t want to do this. The other people he’d killed had actively tried to take him down. He’d always liked Marilyn, and he hated to have to kill her.
They reached the backyard, and she turned to face him. “Do what you have to do, Karl.”
He winced when she said his name. “I knew you were lying.”
At least he could get rid of this stupid mask. He ripped it off and tossed it into the weeds. The breeze on his skin was a little touch of heaven. Her face was pale in the moonlight, but she faced him without fear in her eyes. She was one gutsy broad.
“What tipped you off? How’d you recognize me?”
“Your voice. Even though you tried to mask it, I’m good with voices. Why are you doing this, Karl? You killed my boy, didn’t you? Why would you do that?” Her question ended on a sob.
“I had no choice. Darla stole some stuff from my office, then went to him for help. They were going to turn me into the sheriff. It was his own fault for sticking his nose into my business. I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
She sighed. “That doesn’t even make sense, Karl.”
“Darla worked for me the summer before she died.” He barked out a laugh. “Nora suspected I was having an affair and asked Darla for help proving it. When she was snooping around my office, she found the necklace and my proposal to the Russians and Chinese. She stole it all and took it to Jack. Luckily, she never told my wife. He was auditing my books and came to me with questions after I killed her. I had no choice.”
He should just put a bullet through her head and be done with it, but he couldn’t until she understood that it wasn’t his fault. “Look, I have a new life waiting. One with a beautiful young woman. She’d guilted Lewis out of the deed to some property, and all we were going to do was sell it. That doesn’t sound criminal, does it? The money from the sale will set us up for life. I wasn’t about to let it all fly away because your boy poked his nose into our business.”
“How could selling some property bring you that much money?”
Maybe he’d tell her the whole story. Why not? It would be good to get it off his chest.
The sheriff drove the ATV while Shauna perched between Zach and Everett. It was a tight squeeze for her, and the machine nearly rolled over in the curves because of the load, but they were nearly there. Marilyn’s cabin was just through this stand of trees.
Shauna tapped Zach on the shoulder, then shouted over the wind rushing past them. “We should stop here and walk in so he doesn’t hear us.”
“If he’s there.” Zach tapped the sheriff on the shoulder and repeated Shauna’s request.
The ATV rumbled to a stop, and Everett turned off the engine. The sudden cessation of sound and movement was a relief. Now that they were here, her throat was full of unshed tears tangled up with fear and dread. What if she was wrong and this brief detour cost her the life of her son? She bit her lip and pushed away the horrifying thought.
She pointed to the slight incline. “The cabin is just over that rise. Let’s go.”
Zach took her arm and dropped into step with her. “Do we have a cell signal here?”
“I don’t think so. There wasn’t one the last time we were here.”
The sheriff paused and looked at his phone. “No service. We’d better hurry.” He drew his gun. “Stay behind me. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”
They crested the hill, and she saw a dim glow of a lantern shining through the broken windows. Her heart surged in her chest. “Someone’s there!” She broke into a run, but when she started past the sheriff, he grabbed her arm.
“Careful, Shauna. We don’t want to rush in there and cause him to start firing bullets in Alex’s direction.”
She swallowed and nodded. “Okay.”
“Stay close and don’t make any noise.”
His order was easier said than done. Gravel crunched under her feet, and her breath sounded loud in her ears. She veered to the shoulder of the road where soft dirt and vegetation muffled her footsteps.
As they neared the cabin, she heard voices. Everett held his finger to his lips, then led them across the high grass toward the outhouse looming in the moonlight. She made out two figures standing near the edge of the woods, one taller than the other. Marilyn and Karl maybe? She couldn’t make out any features. They crept a bit closer, and she recognized the voice.
Her fingers dug into Zach’s arm. She’d been right. Karl was behind this. She didn’t see Alex, though. Where was he? Surely Karl hadn’t hurt him.
They advanced closer until she finally understood what Karl was saying. He seemed to be explaining to Marilyn about how he’d fallen in love with Penelope and had concocted this plan to sell the deep-injection well and the blueprints for how it was built.
“You’re telling me this well can start earthquakes?” Marilyn’s voice held skepticism.
“Yep. That earthquake on Wednesday? I started it to prove to the Chinese that it works.” Karl’s voice was full of pride.
“How did Penelope get the well in her name?”
“Penelope went to Lewis and told him he owed her for ruining her life. He’d been drinking and told her how he’d started the earthquake accidentally. She demanded he sign it over to her or the entire world would know he was a mass murderer. He did it, but regretted it as soon as he sobered up. Nothing he could do about it then, though.”
“We sold it to the highest bidder, the Chinese.”
“You’re disgusting,” Marilyn said. “And a traitor to your country.”
“It won’t be my country for much longer. I’m out of here in the morning.” His voice hardened. “I thought you’d understand if I explained it, but I was wrong. Time to say lights out, Marilyn. I’m sorry.” He brought up his arm, and moonlight glinted off the gun in his hand.
The sheriff took a shooting stance with his gun pointing at Karl. “Freeze! Police! Karl Prince, you’re under arrest. Throw down your gun.”
Karl froze. The gun dropped to the ground, and he held his hands up as he turned toward them. “I can explain.”
Zach vaulted past the sheriff and tackled Karl. The two tussled in the grass for a few moments until Zach managed to subdue him.
Zach hauled Karl to his feet. “Where’s Alex?”
Karl stared back defiantly and didn’t answer.
Shauna wanted to leap on him and throttle the answer from him. “Where’s my son?”
Marilyn rushed for the door. “He’s in the cabin!”
Shauna leaped after her, quickly outpacing her to reach the door first. She burst into the cabin and saw Alex curled on the cot sleeping. Relief coursed through her, and she nearly sagged to the floor.
Her legs trembled as she staggered to the cot and scooped him into her arms. She buried her face in his neck and inhaled the smell of little boy. Her boy. Tears flooded her eyes and ran down her cheeks and onto his face.
His eyelids fluttered, then opened, and he stared into her face. “Mommy? I knew you’d find me.” He wrapped his arms around her neck. “Spider-Man was really mean to me and Grammy.”
She petted his hair. “I know, sweetheart.
The sheriff arrested him, and you’re safe now. Grammy is safe too. We’re all going to go home and crawl in our own beds.”
“I want to go to Zachster’s,” he said into her neck. “That’s home now.”
She looked up as Zach came through the door. “I think so too.”
Chapter 42
The lights of the passing boats were pinpricks in the dark night. Shauna stood on the hillside looking down into Rainshadow Bay with a canopy of stars overhead. Zach’s arm was around her waist, and the dogs were on her other side. Marilyn was inside sleeping with Alex, and they’d come out here to talk where there was no chance of Alex overhearing.
She laid her head against his chest. “I still can’t believe it. Karl Prince of all people.”
“Greed and lust can really change a man.”
“And my dad.” She cleared her throat. “I’d heard of deep-injection wells triggering earthquakes, but I had no idea it could be done deliberately.”
“It sounds like your dad stumbled onto the right depth and pressure accidentally. Guilt ruined his life. He should have told someone and faced up to it.”
“He should have done a lot of things. Like found his kids and taken care of all of us.” Her eyes burned, and her throat tightened at the thought of all she’d lost. “He ruined our lives.”
His warm fingers touched her chin, and he tilted her face up to look into her eyes. “He didn’t ruin anything, Flygirl. You’re still here. So is Alex. So am I.”
“Jack’s not.” Her voice trembled.
“No, he’s not. We never can understand why bad things happen to good people like Jack. But all that you’ve gone through has made you strong.”
He turned her slightly so she was looking out onto the water. The waves caught the glimmer of the moonlight as they rolled to the shore. “Look at the view from here. If we were down on the shore, we wouldn’t be able to see how the two boats maneuver to avoid each other. We can see the lighthouse and the Dungeness Spit. From up here, we can see lots of things we couldn’t if we were in the middle of the waves.”
She got where he was going. “Now that it’s all over, we can see how God took care of us through this. He let us find Alex in time.”
“Exactly. God never said bad things wouldn’t happen, but he’s promised to work those things for good in our lives. I think he’s done that. You know the truth about what happened. God has provided for you every step of the way too.”
His words struck a chord deep in her heart. The future looked bright for them. She could lay down her fear and trust again. Love again.
She cupped his face in her hands. “I love you, Zach. I couldn’t say it before. I couldn’t even admit it to myself before because I didn’t want to ever face that kind of loss again. But you’re right. God is faithful through everything that comes. Even though the past year has been the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced, he took care of me and Alex. He gave us everything we needed.”
His blue eyes widened, and a glow started in their depths. “I’ve wanted to tell you how I felt for days now, but I thought you’d pack up and leave.”
He pulled her closer, and his lips came down on hers. His lips were firm yet exquisitely gentle. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sank into the passion and promise of his kiss. Time lost all meaning as she gave the last remnants of her heart to him.
When she finally broke the kiss, her breath was coming in small gasps. This was a man who would give his life for her and Alex. He’d proven himself time and time again. She didn’t have to be afraid.
“You realize now that it’s safe I’ll have to go home,” she whispered. “You’re way too tempting.”
“That last part was my line.” His white teeth gleamed in the moonlight. “I think a quick wedding is in order.”
She gasped and put her hand to her throat. “Whoa, we’re moving a little fast there, Cowboy.”
“Not fast enough for me. I love you. We were friends first, which is the very best foundation for a good marriage, don’t you agree?” He took her hands in his. “Marry me, Shauna. As quickly as we can get a license.”
She searched his tender gaze. He seemed serious, and her heart thumped hard against her ribs. “This will be your first marriage. Don’t you want a nice ceremony with a tux and everything?”
“That doesn’t mean anything to me. We can invite the whole town for a barbecue afterward. People will be happy for us.”
He was right. What did a fancy wedding mean anyway? “All right.”
His lips descended on hers again, and she tasted how sweet life had become with Zach by her side.
Epilogue
ONE MONTH LATER
The wedding had been small. Just a few close friends had gathered at the church. No one had given her away because she was giving herself to this wonderful man. Marilyn had Alex for the week, and tomorrow they would go on a honeymoon to a destination Zach refused to disclose, the rat.
“My feet hurt,” Shauna moaned as Zach opened the truck door for her.
“I think I can remedy that.” He swept her into his arms and carried her toward the front door of his house.
He staggered a little as he went up the stairs. “Um, you weigh all of a hundred pounds soaking wet, and I’m struggling here. I need to lift weights.”
She clutched his neck as he practically fell against the doorjamb. “Maybe a hundred and five with all that apple cake Felicia forced me to eat. You can put me down.”
“Not a chance.” He rested against the jamb. “I should have gotten out my keys. See if you can fish them from my pocket.”
She giggled and dug her hand into his left pocket. “Got ’em. Let me do the honors.”
From this angle it was difficult to insert the key and twist it, but she managed, and he practically fell across the threshold with her. “I think you’re faking all this, Cowboy.”
“I’m not faking this, wife.” He gathered her closer, and his lips devoured hers.
There were no restraints this time, no reason to pull away. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave up every bit of love in her heart. “Care to carry me to the bedroom, or should I walk?” His smile held so much tenderness she couldn’t look away.
He set her feet on the floor. “I want to give you a wedding present first.”
“We agreed no presents! You promised.” She had a cute little white number to wear to bed that she’d bought with him in mind. She wasn’t about to tell him that now, though.
“This didn’t cost anything.” His blue eyes turned serious. “I started some digging to locate your brother and sister. I contacted CPS, and after much pleading and a few threats, I got the name of Connor’s caseworker. I think we might be able to find him. We know who adopted him, but not where he is yet.”
She gasped and would have fallen if he hadn’t had hold of her. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. We’ll know more in a few weeks.”
She clutched his arm. “What do you know about him?”
“Just the names of his parents. Just be patient, Fly Girl. We’re getting close.” He picked her up in his arms and started for the bedroom. “You can say thank you anytime.”
She pressed her lips against his cheek. “I’d rather show you.”
A Note from the Author
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Shauna and Zach’s story as we take off into a new series! It was fun for me to write this and settle into the beautiful state of Washington. ☺
If you’re like me, you often wonder why God lets bad things happen in our lives. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that with every single trial I’ve faced, I’ve come through the other side stronger and wiser. I can’t always see at the time how God is using the trial in my life, but looking back, I often have more clarity.
I love hearing from readers! Drop me a note at [email protected], or say hello over on Facebook. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Love,
Discussion Ques
tions
1.Was Shauna’s hatred of Zach justified?
2.What is your first thought when bad things happen in your life?
3.Why do you think Shauna withdrew from friends and even church when Jack died? What would you do?
4.Valerie told Zach life goes on. Sometimes we don’t want it to. Have you ever felt that way?
5.Felicia believed good and bad experiences work to shape us. Why do you feel that is true or untrue?
6.Is there any real justice in the world?
7.Have you ever been slammed with bad experiences and were waiting for the other shoe to drop? How did you get past it?
8.Have you ever done something to show you weren’t afraid when you were actually shaking in your boots?
9.Have you ever realized years later how God turned something bad into something good?
Acknowledgments
I’m so blessed to belong to the terrific HarperCollins Christian Publishing dream team! I’ve been with my great fiction team for fifteen years in 2017, and they are like family to me. I learn something new with every book, which makes writing so much fun for me!
Our fiction publisher, Amanda Bostic, has been by my side through most of those fifteen years. She’s my editor as well and really gets suspense. Fabulous cover guru Kristen Ingebretson works hard to create the perfect cover—and does. And, of course, I can’t forget the other friends in my amazing fiction family: I’ve got a fabulous marketing and publicity team in Paul Fisher, Allison Carter, and Kristen Golden. Becky Monds, Karli Jackson, Jodi Hughes, Meghan Kraft, Kim Carlton, and Kayleigh Hines are always on hand to brainstorm titles and ideas. You are all such a big part of my life. I wish I could name all the great folks at HCCP who work on selling my books through different venues. I’m truly blessed!
Julee Schwarzburg is a dream editor to work with. She totally gets romantic suspense, and our partnership is pure joy. She brought some terrific ideas to the table with this book—as always!
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