What else was he hiding?
Jillian flipped through the pages, reading the terms of release written by the assistant district attorney. Katarina had taken a plea deal and was given a light sentence that was little more than a slap on the wrist. Six months with credit for time served for selling a little girl to a couple with a shady past. She had served three short weeks before striking a deal and was released two days later.
Jillian glared at the paper, anger building at the two-word explanation for her early release. Prison overcrowding. It was an excuse often used to give special privileges to wealthy socialites and prominent businessmen.
And Jillian knew it was a damn lie.
Katarina had been released because her freedom served some higher purpose, according to the assistant district attorney. But there was no telling how many lives had been destroyed by Katarina. It sounded like she was a player in the circle of evil that kidnapped and sold kids and young adults like commodities, and the people sworn to protect the citizens of Charleston had signed off on it.
Suddenly, Ellie’s willingness to believe that even Nick could be involved in the conspiracy didn’t seem so paranoid.
21
Ellie pulled off the highway, turning down the narrow road that wound its way through a dense wooded area. When the pavement ended and her tires crunched on gravel, she slowed, squinting into the dark and watching for any wildlife that might dart across the road.
The last light of day had faded long before she got to the private cabin on the lake. As she came around a bend, a fat raccoon lumbered down the side of the driveway. Accustomed to the relative safety of the rural area, the animal glanced over its shoulder when Ellie’s headlights spotlighted him and stopped to pick up some treasure without a second look at the vehicle.
At such a slow speed, the gravel drive seemed to stretch on forever, but Ellie didn’t want to give herself away. At least, not yet. Going into the situation blind, she had no idea what she would find when she arrived.
She’d almost called Flynn to let him know she was coming, but her paranoia had gotten the better of her. Though she’d handpicked his organization, there were no guarantees. So, she’d donned her bulletproof vest and grabbed her gun, using a light jacket to hide both. Just in case.
She almost missed the house in the distance, until the silver glint of moonlight glancing off the second story window caught her attention. The entire house was dark. Not even the gentle glow of a hallway nightlight reached the black windowpanes.
Her heart raced as she gripped the steering wheel tighter and willed her breathing to slow. They could just be asleep. It was late enough for that. But turning off all the lights?
There were no cars out in the open to help her guess how many people were in the house. The garage, which was at the back, ran the length of the building and could hold at least four cars.
Could they be gone?
Her heart ricocheted into her throat.
Going in blind was an understatement.
It was too late to kill her headlights, and she decided against it in the same breath. Hiding her arrival would look suspicious. It was better for whoever was inside the house to assume that she was coming for a visit, even if it was disrespectfully late at night by Southern standards.
She parked in the open, turning the car so the passenger side was between her and the house. When she got out, she leaned against the closed driver’s side door and checked her gun in the fading interior light before it shut off and left her in darkness.
Scanning the yard as she made her way toward the house, Ellie kept her right hand near her pocket, fingers wrapped around her service weapon.
Her right foot had just left the ground, to take the first step up onto the porch, when the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Ellie dropped to her knee and spun, using the shrubs neatly planted near the porch to guard her back.
A figure moved in the darkness.
“Hands up,” she demanded, raising her weapon and getting a bead on the dark shadow.
The man raised his hands immediately, the shadows cast by the house hiding his face from the moonlight. “Don’t shoot.”
As soon as he spoke, Ellie knew who he was. “Nick? What are you doing here?” Still, she kept her weapon steady.
He tilted his head to the side in question, hands in the air. “Why are you still pointing your gun at me, Ellie? It’s me, Nick.”
“I know.”
He sucked in a quick breath. “What’s going on?”
“You first. Why are you here?”
“I got a call.”
Her throat tightened. “A call?”
“Y-yes,” he sputtered. “Put that damn thing down. Ellie, what’s wrong with you?”
She forced down the emotions that threatened to guilt her into doing as he said. “Who called you?”
“I don’t know. A woman. She said it was urgent. That you were with Valerie and in danger.”
Ellie flicked her gaze to the house, keeping her weapon aimed at Nick’s chest.
“Valerie is fine.” To his credit, Nick hadn’t even shifted. “I’ve been here for almost an hour. Flynn said everything has been quiet.”
“Then why are you still here?”
Nick let out an exasperated breath. “Because it’s late, Ellie, and I don’t want to drive home. It is my cabin, you know?”
Ellie’s hands dropped a fraction, holding the gun before she raised the weapon again. “Where’s Flynn?”
“He put Valerie back in the safe room until we were sure it was you.” He took a step forward. “Ellie, put the weapon down.”
Footsteps drew her attention to the front door. The screen door edged open, and Flynn stepped onto the porch with his phone screen
