The Lake

SIXTY

The hand tightened.

Another clasped her arm.

They brought her up.

Pulled her around.

Lips closed on hers. Gently…

Mace.

“Why, hello, sweet thing,” he said softly. “How ya been?”

“YOU! You BASTARD! What’re you doing here…? And where’s Deana? Tell me where you’ve hidden her. TELL ME!” Shaking off his hands, she grabbed his biker jacket, jerking him close. “Just tell me what you’ve done with my daughter. You’ll never get away with it. TELL ME—WHERE IS SHE?”

“Hey, steady on, there. And let go a’ me. Can’t tell you where li’l Deana is, but I do know she’s alive and well…” He thought about it, blew out breath slowly, and shook his head. “Y’could say she’s several country miles from bein’ all right. But she’s okay. At the moment,” he added with a grin.

“Where? Just tell me where she is, Mace!”

He backed off, into the shadows, his eyes glittering in the half-light. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he had a knife in his hand.

His eyes narrowed.

Pointing the blade at her, he whispered, “That’s for me to know—and our little friend Warren to find out.”

“Warren? Why Warren? All of Mill Valley PD is looking for Deana… never mind Mattie…” She looked at him uncertainly… Where is Mattie? she wondered.

Her heart froze.

She must’ve picked up my message by now…

“Really?” Raising his eyebrows, he sent her a chilling smile. “Wouldn’t count on that if I were you!”

He turned. Disappeared into the kitchen.

She heard the back door open, then snap shut.

Stunned, she wondered what Mace had meant.

I wouldn’t count on that if I were you…

Surely he hadn’t…