his house since.

By the time he was finished with all the check-ins, Annalise had made them breakfast. They ate quickly, as if fighting against a ticking time bomb.

Evan had felt the tension before, but Sadie’s contact had definitely made him feel like everything was going to explode quickly.

“I still find it hard to believe that Earl is the inside person,” Annalise said as they cleared their dishes.

“Right now he’s the only one who looks halfway good. Why don’t you think he’s the one?” Evan asked.

“He is a little reserved, but to be honest,” she replied, “I don’t want to sound unkind, but I just don’t think he’s smart enough to put this all together.”

“I’m not sure it took a lot of brains to implement this plan. Somebody from the inside told Jacob and Gretchen when would be the best time to break into the school, and that same somebody lifted a key for the garage and one to steal the van.”

“I just think the insider is somebody else, somebody we’re missing altogether,” she replied. “Have you checked out Regina?”

“So far Hendrick hasn’t given me anything on her, but we’re checking everything,” he said.

“I know that.” She put their dishes in the dishwasher. “That wasn’t me being critical. I know you’re in control of everything.”

He realized he’d been curt. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

She smiled. “I think we’re both tense.”

He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “I’m glad you’re here with me,” he said.

“Me, too,” she replied.

For several long moments they simply held each other, and he finally released her. Once again he realized she stirred all kinds of emotions inside him, but there was no way he wanted to examine exactly what they were as long as he was in the middle of this investigation. Right now Sadie needed and deserved all his attention and energy. He returned to his computer, and Annalise sank down at the desk in front of hers.

“Do you really believe Sadie could break into a banking system?” he asked Annalise.

She frowned. “I really don’t know. She’s brilliant, but I haven’t really taught the girls how to do anything like that. She’s never been challenged to get through all the security and firewalls that would entail.”

“Now that we know she’s working a computer, I’ve got Hendrick watching the banking systems for a breech.”

“I just want her to get back to us with more information about where she’s being held,” Annalise replied. “If she can’t do it for them, then she’ll be of no use, and that’s what scares me for her. She needs to help us find her.”

As if her wish was granted, her notification sounded. It was Sadie again.

“She says when she looks out the window, in the distance she sees a big, wooden owl. She believes the name of the cabins has owl in it,” Annalise told him.

“Does she have any idea where they are located?” Evan asked.

Annalise typed in the question. “She says she doesn’t know. She just knows it must be owl something. She also says she doesn’t think they had plans to be there.”

“So, the odds are good that wherever they are, it isn’t a private cabin,” Evan said.

They waited several more minutes, but Sadie didn’t type anything more. Evan got on a call to Hendrick and told him what Sadie had said.

“I’ll start a search right now,” Hendrick stated. “Later.”

“We’re going to get her, aren’t we?” Annalise asked, her green eyes shining with a new hope.

“Yeah, I think we’re going to get her,” he replied. He just hoped they got to her in time. Once again he felt the ticking time bomb inside his veins.

Ticktock.

Chapter Eleven

Two hours later Hendrick called. “Man, I had no idea there were so many cabin resorts around with owl in the name. Owl’s Nest, Sleepy Owl, Twin Owls...we’re galvanizing local officials to make contact with each one of them to see if Jacob and Gretchen are guests.”

“Why would any of them rent to these people who have been splashed across the news for the past twenty-four hours?” Annalise asked.

“Some of these cabins are completely off the grid. The owners or managers might not even know they’re harboring fugitives,” Hendrick replied. “We’ve told law enforcement to approach the cabins in unmarked vehicles so we won’t spook the fugitives with any police presence.”

“So, now it’s just a waiting game,” Evan replied.

“It’s coming to an end. Thank God Sadie got us enough information to narrow the search. I wouldn’t be surprised if something pops within the next hour or two.”

“Let’s hope so. I’m ready to put this one behind me with a happy ending,” Evan replied.

“Fingers crossed, it won’t be too long now,” Hendrick said, and then hung up.

“I should call Chief Cummings and let him know what’s going on,” Evan said, more to himself than to Annalise.

“Why would you consider not calling him?” she asked.

Evan released a deep sigh. “I don’t know. I just fear that if he gets involved in the ultimate takedown, things will somehow get all muddled and screwed up.”

“We definitely don’t need a screwup at this point,” Annalise replied.

“I’ve got three highly trained men with me. Between the four of us we should be able to take control of a small cabin and two adults who have no warning that we’re coming.”

“That’s got to be your call,” she replied.

“I appreciate that. I haven’t forgotten that Jacob and Gretchen got away from the school due to Chief Cummings’s men and his decision to remove a lot of his men. The last thing I want is for Jacob and Gretchen to somehow escape the cabin, which will result in a manhunt through the mounains. I’m taking a wait and see attitude before I decide to involve Chief Cummings.”

And so they waited.

As the minutes and then hours passed, Evan stayed on the phone checking in with the ongoing investigation and Annalise remained at her computer, hoping and praying for a successful end for Sadie.

The tension inside her grew with each minute

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