Chapter Five
Noelle had vanished into the woods. Thomas swore as he gave chase, shining his flashlight on the ground so he could follow her footprints.
He didn’t know why she was running off, but he sure wasn’t about to let her head out alone. Whatever she’d seen, Noelle was desperate to follow that lead.
And he was desperate to follow her.
His feet pounded into the snow. His boots were sinking into the soft fall, and the suction made every step that much harder.
He threw a fast glance over his shoulder. He couldn’t see the lights from the diner, not anymore. There was darkness all around him and—
He glanced forward and his light hit Noelle. She stood in the middle of a clearing, with one of her hands locked around a flashlight and the other hand around her gun. Since she’d lost her own weapon in the icy water, she’d gotten that gun from the sheriff.
“There are two sets of tracks here,” she said, voice tense.
His light flashed to the ground. “Who are we following? Did you get an ID on—”
“I didn’t see him. I heard him, and I followed his footprints, but there are two sets now.”
Two sets, which appeared to be the same size and shape.
“We have to split up,” Noelle said, her words tumbling out. “I think the perp took Jenny into the woods. He didn’t drive away with her. He carried her off. He’s out here now, watching us.”
Leaving a trail for them to follow?
Thomas’s light fell over those prints again. The snowfall was getting harder.
“They’ll be covered soon.” She surged to the right. “You go left. I’ll—”
He grabbed her arm, stopping her. “This is a trap.” He knew it with certainty because he’d laid similar traps before.
Two sets of footprints to throw off those who pursued. To divide them up.
To make the attack easier.
“No, no, he’s here. I heard him.” She twisted her hand, trying to break loose from his hold and the light from her flashlight bobbed. But he didn’t let her go. He couldn’t. “Jenny won’t survive if she’s out in the open! We have to follow him, now!” She tugged again. “You go left. I’ll go right.”
He didn’t let her go anywhere. “There’s more snow to the left.” The tracks were covered just a bit more. Because those tracks had been placed earlier? “We both go right.”
And he led the way, with his flashlight positioned just over his gun. When it came to hunting deadly prey, Thomas was the one with more experience.
But I’ve been with her in the wilderness before. Noelle didn’t remember that terrible night, but he did. There hadn’t been any snow on the ground then. Just a hot, long southern night. A night of fear and death.
It was easy enough for a good hunter to cover his tracks, even out in the snow. Grab a branch, drag it behind you, and your trail was gone.
Whoever they were after... That person wanted them to follow.
Their prey was leading them somewhere. To Jenny? To death?
Thomas was about to show the fool he’d made a serious mistake.
Thomas was never the hunted. He’d been born to be the predator.
* * *
NOELLE EVERS WASN’T DEAD. She wasn’t trapped beneath the frozen waters of the lake. She’d survived.
And she’s hunting me.