Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
I'd never been in a helicopter before, but I didn't have time to be nervous.
On the way to Pinehaven, I texted Morgan and Tessa, giving them the highlights.
Their replies came fast and furious, filled with concern and questions and worry that the danger still wasn't over.
It might not be, but I wasn't alone now.
Finn was a trained soldier. He was also carrying a firearm, which he seemed to have picked up from the pilot.
At any other moment in my life, that would have made me nervous, but I was afraid we might need the gun, especially if I was wrong about Tyler.
As I chatted with my friends, Finn was on his phone, too, his fingers flying through his text messages as fast as mine were.
When the helicopter landed, we got off and ran to a parking lot near the airfield, where our pilot had arranged for us to get a car.
It wasn't until we had fastened our seat belts and started our drive to Jessica's house that I had a chance to ask Finn who he'd been talking to.
"One of my former team members does private security now," Finn said. "I had him look up Tyler Pierce."
"Are you going to tell me he's not an architect?" I said warily. "Because Morgan looked into him, too, and she found the information on his brother, so that was true."
"He's an architect. But did you ever see a photo of him?"
"Why would I need a photo? I saw him in real life." At Finn's expression, my stomach twisted once more. "What?"
"I'm guessing when Morgan did her research, she didn't know what the man you were talking to looked like, did she?"
"I never sent her a photo."
He held out his phone. "This is the photo I just received."
I took his phone, shocked by the face of the man staring back at me. He had light brown hair that was thinning on the top, acne on his face, and thick-rimmed glasses. "This has to be a mistake."
"It's not, Cassidy. I think the man you met stole Tyler's identity and his life as a cover."
"If he's not the brother, who would he be?" I could see the answer in Finn's eyes. "You think he was hired to find Jessica and bring her back?"
"I don't think he's supposed to bring her back. I believe his mission is to make sure she never returns, never testifies."
I wanted to deny it, but I couldn't, because I knew deep down in my soul that Finn was absolutely right. "Can you go faster?"
Finn pressed down on the gas. "We're only a few miles away.
The local police said they checked out the house, and Jessica wasn't home.
They were going to stick around, but there's a multi-vehicle accident on the highway, so they'll be back as soon as they can.
If Tyler, or whatever his name is, had to drive here from Cork Harbor, then we might still have a chance of getting to Jessica before he does. "
"I hope so. Is it weird that there was a multi-vehicle accident nearby that took all the cops away? Or am I being paranoid?"
He gave me a shrug. "It's probably good to be paranoid. But Pinehaven is a small town with a small police force, so it could just be that."
"Maybe Jessica isn't even there. Ellen texted me a few minutes ago that she still hadn't reached Jessica."
"She might have moved on since Ellen sent her there," Finn suggested. "Maybe she just didn't feel safe and wanted to keep going just in case anyone tracked her the way Tyler just did."
"Ellen said she texted her like a week ago, so if she left, it was recently.
And she didn't tell Ellen." I paused. "What if Tyler already has her?
What if he kidnapped her and is taking her somewhere else to…
" I really didn't want to finish that thought.
"We have to save her, Finn. She's my sister. I can't let her die."
"We're going to do everything we can to prevent that."
I hoped our everything would be enough.
The address Ellen had given us led to a narrow gravel road that wound through a dense pine forest. The small, weathered cabin was set back from the main road, almost invisible unless you knew where to look.
"That's it," Finn said, pulling into a thick grove of trees about fifty yards away. "We should approach on foot. If Tyler's already there, we don't want to announce ourselves."
"I don't see a car."
"He might have hidden it somewhere, too."
We got out quietly, and Finn pulled his gun from his waistband, checking it with practiced efficiency. After everything that had happened, I was grateful he was armed.
We moved through the trees, staying off the road until we reached the cabin. It was surrounded by forest land. Perfect for hiding. Also perfect for trapping someone.
We approached the cabin carefully. The front door was closed, curtains drawn. Finn knocked softly. "Jessica? Jessica Trent?"
No answer.
He tried the door. It was locked.
"Let's check the back," Finn said.
We walked around the side of the cabin, our feet crunching on pine needles and fallen leaves. The back of the property opened up to more forest, and I could see a narrow trail leading into the trees.
The back door was closed but unlocked. Finn pushed it open slowly, gun raised. "Jessica?"
Still no answer.
We stepped into a small kitchen, tidy and sparse. Through a doorway, I could see a living room with a couch and a woodstove. It looked lived-in but empty.
"She's not here," I said with disappointment.
"But someone's staying here." Finn gestured to a mug on the counter, still half full of coffee.
A sound from outside made us both freeze.
We moved back to the door and looked out. A dark-haired woman in jeans and a blue jacket was now visible about fifty yards away from the house. She was picking flowers and completely unaware of our presence.
"That has to be her," I said, moving in her direction. "Put the gun away so we don't spook her."
He tucked the gun into the back waistband of his jeans.
When we got closer, the woman suddenly whirled around in alarm, holding the flowers in front of her like some kind of shield. Then she dropped them and ran into the woods.
"Dammit," Finn swore as he broke into a run, and I quickly followed.
"Jessica," I shouted. "Ellen Clarke sent us. We're here to protect you. You're in danger. Please, stop."
At my words, she looked back, then stumbled over a branch and fell to the ground.
"I've got this," I told Finn. Then I slowly moved toward her.
"Jessica," I repeated, bringing her gaze to mine.
"You don't have to be scared. I'm Cassidy Clarke, Ellen's granddaughter.
And that's Finn Kelly. He works at Kelly's Pub in Stonecross.
We know why you had to disappear. We're here to help you.
We think someone may be coming after you. "
Jessica slowly got to her feet, her jeans covered in dirt and leaves, her face pale, her eyes wary. "Why did I disappear?" she challenged.
"Because you blew the whistle on fraud at your company, because a man named Marcus Pierce is awaiting trial, and your testimony could make sure he goes to jail."
"You could be here to make sure I don't testify."
"We're not the danger. That's a man calling himself Tyler Pierce, but he's not Marcus's real brother. He's been hired to find you. And he's on his way here. We need you to come with us."
"How do I know you're telling the truth? How do I know you're not the ones trying to kill me?"
I thought about that question, then gave her the truth. "If we wanted to hurt you, we would have already done that. Finn has a gun. He's an ex-soldier. He knows how to use it." I paused, looking back at Finn.
He took out his gun and pointed it down at the ground.
I turned back to Jessica. "We came to warn you, to get you out of here, to keep you safe. You have to trust me. I know about your mom, Lily, how Ellen helped her escape a long time ago."
Something in Jessica's gaze shifted. "You know about my mother?"
"Yes. I'm telling the truth."
"How did you find me? How does this other man know where I am? Did someone talk? Ellen assured me no one would know where I went. Was it that guy I gave my ring to? Did he rat me out?"
"He did," I said. "And Tyler tracked you from Cork Harbor."
"But I disappeared months ago. Why is this happening now?"
"Nathan didn’t crack until today."
She let out a sigh. "I had a feeling he was going to be a problem."
A car engine suddenly sounded in the distance, growing closer. And there weren't many other homes in the area. I glanced back at Finn.
"I'm going to check it out," he said. "Go deeper into the woods. And don't come back until you hear me say it's safe."
"There's a trail that leads to a beach," Jessica said, already moving. "Follow me."
We ran through the tall pines, Jessica moving with the confidence of someone who'd walked this path many times. I couldn't hear the engine anymore. I also couldn't hear Finn or anyone else. But it felt like someone was coming, or maybe that was my imagination…
Jessica suddenly tripped again, sprawling onto her knees. She grabbed her ankle in pain. "Damn. I think I sprained it," she said, gritting her teeth together as she winced.
"Can you walk? We have to keep going."
"I don't think I can. You should go on without me. If we're together, you'll be a target."
"I'm not leaving you alone. If you can't walk, then we have to hide.
Come on." I grabbed her hand and pulled her up, then wrapped my arm around her waist as she hobbled and hopped her way into the thickest brush we could find.
We knelt down, staying close together, hoping we couldn't be seen from the path.
The forest was silent except for our ragged breathing and the distant call of birds.
Jessica gave me a questioning look. I shook my head, putting my finger to my lips, because I could hear someone coming. I really hoped it was Finn.