Chapter 9
Gina
“You know what?” George said, setting his empty mug on the floor with a clunk. “I think it’s time we got honest about why we’re really here.”
George’s tone was completely casual and carefree. Gina glanced at Nick. His jaw had tightened and his stance was alert, reminding her she wasn’t facing this alone.
“What do you mean?” Brooke asked from her spot against the wall.
“Well, it’s interesting, isn’t it? Five people from a small town, all ending up in the same remote location on the same day I happen to be passing through.” George’s smile was pleasant, but his eyes were calculating. “Makes a person wonder if there might be more to it than just a hike.”
“It was a training run,” Brooke said defensively. “I needed this specific route for my Moose Run prep.”
“I’m sure you did.” George nodded.
“What do you mean by passing through?” Gina asked, trying to sort out exactly what this man was up to. “There’s no passing through Bearwater. The road’s a dead end.”
He gave her a nod. “It is at that, isn’t it? A dead end.”
The way he said the words sent a shiver up her back. She guessed she wasn’t the only one. The silence stretched long enough that Gina could hear the wind rattling the windows.
“This is ridiculous,” Joe finally said. “We’re trail runners. We came here to run trails. End of story.”
“Are you sure about that?” George asked mildly. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like maybe someone in this group was expecting to meet me here today.”
Kelsey made a small sound, quickly covered by a cough.
“Nobody was expecting you,” Gina said firmly. “Your arrival was a complete surprise.”
“Was it?” George looked around the circle. “Because I have to say, for a group that supposedly didn’t know I was coming, you’re all acting pretty nervous.”
“We’re nervous because you’re acting like we’re suspects in some kind of crime,” Nick said, taking a step closer to Gina.
“Crime?” George raised his eyebrows. “Who said anything about a crime? I’m just curious about coincidences.”
“Fine,” Brooke said suddenly. “You already know why I’m here, but I’ll spell it out for you again.
I’m training for the Moose Range Run 100.
This route has the elevation profile I need to test my climbing legs.
I planned this run last summer, knowing it’d be important.
” Her voice cracked slightly. “Happy now?”
Gina felt Nick shift slightly beside her, a quiet readiness in his posture. Just knowing he was alert and watching George like a hawk helped steady her own breathing.
George studied Brooke’s face. “Why this exact date?”
“Because my training schedule said so. Because I’m a neurotic mess about my race prep after I failed last year. Because I thought, if I could nail this run, I’d prove to myself I could handle the real thing.”
Brooke’s laugh was bitter. “Turns out I couldn’t even handle the weather. Weather that’s highly possible next month on race day. Weather that might be the end of me again.”
Gina watched George process this, saw him filing away Brooke’s desperation and self-doubt. Her friend’s story rang completely true.
Brooke planned this run obsessively, checking the weather reports a dozen times, muttering about elevation gains and training periodization. Gina had talked to her several times about giving it a few more weeks before coming up here.
But no . . . Brooke had gotten snotty and told Gina she would go alone if she had to. She was going when she wanted and not deviating from her training plan. Gina had insisted on coming along and had issued an open invitation to the rest of the running club.
Of the thirty-plus members on the notification list, half a dozen replied. As usually happened, things came up, leaving only Joe and Kelsey to join Brooke and Gina.
Nick had arrived in time for his summer work, and Brooke had asked him to come along too. Frankly, when Brooke told her Nick was coming, Gina was a little surprised he was willing to join the group for a grueling outing like this. She glanced in his direction to find him staring at her.
For a breath, neither of them looked away. That moment was enough for Gina to read Nick’s thoughts, or at least the most pressing ones: something isn’t right here, mixed with let me help keep you safe.
“And you?” George turned to Joe. “What brought you up here today?”
Joe shifted uncomfortably. “I wanted to challenge myself. I’m new to trail running, new to the group. Thought maybe if I could handle a tough run, I’d fit in better.”
“Fit in better?”
“I’m the outsider here. California transplant, can’t handle the altitude, barely keeping up. And that’s on the town runs.” Joe gestured around the group. “I figured if I could prove I belonged on a run like this, maybe I’d actually belong.” His gaze shifted to Brooke. “Maybe I’d be accepted.”
The honesty in Joe’s voice caught Gina off guard. “You do belong,” she said quietly. “Joe, you don’t have to prove anything to us.”
“Don’t I?” Joe’s smile was rueful. “Look at today. I was the weak link from the start. I couldn’t handle the pace and nearly got everyone stuck. I should’ve turned around earlier, came back to the truck and waited for the rest of you.”
George nodded as if Joe’s explanation satisfied him. “And you, Nick? What’s your story?”
For a while, Nick said nothing, and Gina braced for him to snap at the nosy stranger. Instead, he only sighed. “I’m between jobs. Between places. My cousin asked me to come along, so I did.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.” Nick’s voice was steady.
Gina felt something twist in her chest at Nick’s description of himself. The casual way he admitted to being between jobs and not having a house. She should be running the other direction. His life was a walking collection of every warning sign she’d learned to watch for.
Yet, the way he accepted things was refreshing and different. He didn’t make excuses for where he was in life, didn’t blame anyone else. He didn’t even seem particularly ashamed of it.
George smiled and turned to Gina. “What about you?”
“None of your business.”
“You sure about that?”
“Positive.”
“She’s here because she’s my friend and I asked her to come,” Brooke said. “She’s a nurse, and she’s good to have around. Plus, Gina likes the challenge of technical trails.”
Gina shot Brooke a look, but Brooke just shrugged. “What’s the big deal? This whole thing is weird.” She looked at George. “I don’t know why you’re asking these questions and saying one of us is here for you. We don’t know you.”
“You sure?” George asked. “You yourself said I looked familiar.”
“From my coffee shop.” Brooke raised her hands. “I see people every day there. And I remember faces.”
“Hmm . . . interesting story.” George’s attention shifted to Kelsey, who had gone very still. “And you?”
“Same as everyone else. Trail running. Fresh air. Exercise.” Kelsey’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Really?” George leaned forward slightly. “Because you seem awfully nervous for someone who’s just here for exercise.”
“I don’t like storms. I don’t like being trapped.” Kelsey took a step toward the hallway. “I need some air.”
“Air?” George gestured toward the windows. “It’s a blizzard out there.”
“I’ll just crack the door for a minute.”
“I wouldn’t recommend that,” George said, and something in his tone made everyone freeze. “Might be dangerous. Never know what’s out there.”
The threat was subtle but unmistakable. Kelsey stopped, her face pale.
Gina’s pulse jumped, and she felt Nick’s hand brush lightly against her arm—a silent warning to stay still. Even that brief contact sparked heat against the icy dread creeping through her body.
“Look,” Gina said. “I don’t know what you think is going on here, but you’re wrong. We’re just people who got caught in bad weather. If you’re waiting for someone, fine. Wait. But stop interrogating us like we’re criminals.”
George’s smile returned. “Did I say you were criminals? I’m just making conversation, getting to know my temporary roommates.”
“It doesn’t feel like conversation.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.” George’s tone was apologetic, but his eyes remained cold. “I guess I’m just naturally curious about people. Especially when they end up in places where interesting business tends to happen.”
“What kind of business?” Nick asked.
“Oh, you know, the kind people don’t want to discuss in public.” George glanced around the group. “The kind that requires privacy. Discretion. Trust.”
Gina felt her pulse quicken. “We don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t you?” George’s gaze settled on Kelsey again. “I find that hard to believe.”
The silence stretched until Gina couldn’t stand it anymore. “If you have something to say, just say it.”
“I’m saying that someone in this group knows exactly why I’m here.”
George leaned back in his chair, perfectly relaxed, perfectly confident. Like he had all the time in the world.
Outside, the storm continued to rage, trapping them all together. But looking around at the group—at Kelsey’s obvious terror, at Joe’s nervous energy, at Brooke’s defensive posture, at Nick’s careful watchfulness—Gina realized the storm might be the least of their problems.
Her gaze landed on Nick. For a second, she wanted to believe he was the one person she could count on. But belief was a dangerous thing right now.
Someone here was lying. Someone was involved in whatever George was really after.
And being in this circle of people she thought she knew, Gina suddenly wasn’t sure she could trust any of them.
Not Joe, who’d appeared in their group only months ago.
Not Kelsey, who was clearly terrified of something.
Maybe not Brooke, who Gina had know for years but whose desperation might have driven her to do something stupid.
Not even Nick, whom she’d kissed only hours before but still barely knew, even if he did show up when it mattered.
She was trapped in an abandoned building with people she didn’t really know and a man who might be dangerous.
And she had absolutely no idea who she could trust.