Whispers in the Dark (KGI #4)(45)

Again, he thrust his Glock into her hand, but not before pushing her back toward the jeep so she’d be hidden from sight. Then she waited patiently while he went into the motel room. After a moment he came back out, took the gun and led her inside.

She settled on the bed and opened the second sandwich. He sat closer to the headboard and began eating his food. Halfway through her sandwich, her stomach rebelled at the overstuffed sensation, and she reluctantly wrapped the rest back up. She still felt desperately hungry even being overbearingly full.

Shea, are you there?

She dropped her sandwich and came instantly to attention.

Grace! Where are you? Are you all right?

I’ve been doing some searching.

The shaky edge in Grace’s voice unnerved Shea. Fear scuttled up her spine and whispered around her ears. Shea shut her eyes and concentrated fiercely on keeping any thoughts as to what she endured from her sister. She’d warn her, most definitely, but the last thing she wanted was for Grace to relive the horrors Shea had gone through. When she opened them again, she breathed through her nose and focused solely on the link between her and Grace.

Nathan had put down his sandwich at the first sign of Shea’s change in demeanor. He leaned forward, his expression fierce. “What is it, Shea? What’s going on?”

She held up her hand to silence him even as she reached more fully out to Grace. For the first time she actively fixed her attention on Grace’s surroundings, looking for anything to tell her where her sister might be.

Tell me where you are, Grace. Things have changed. I’ll come for you. Just tell me where you are.

Grace was too distracted by something else. She didn’t even act like she heard Shea.

Shit, someone’s here.

Who’s there? Grace, talk to me, damn it. Are you in danger? You have to be careful. They found me. They’ll find you. You can’t stay out in the open. I can help you now. Just tell me where you are.

There was no response from her sister. It was as if she hadn’t heard Shea’s frantic warning. But Shea could feel the awful fear radiating from Grace. It slammed into her, pushing all the air from her lungs.

They weren’t our parents, Shea. I’ve got to get out of here. I’ll reach you later.

And then Grace was gone. The link went black and so silent that it was suffocating.

Grace! Where are you? Damn it, Grace, talk to me! What did you mean they weren’t our parents? Who’s there? Are you in danger?

Shea dropped her face into her hands and rocked back and forth as nothing but the awful silence filled her mind.

CHAPTER 19

NATHAN pried Shea’s hands from her face and forced her to look up at him. “What’s wrong, Shea? Talk to me. What the hell is going on?”

“Grace,” she croaked out. “Oh God, Nathan. I think Grace is in trouble. No, she is in trouble. She’s scared out of her mind.”

“Did she talk to you? What did she tell you?”

Her eyes were wide with panic and her lips trembled.

“Calm down, baby,” he said in a low voice. “Breathe. Just take a few deep breaths and steady yourself.”

Her brow furrowed and she frowned. “She said they weren’t our parents. What could that possibly mean?”

“Is that all? Think, Shea. What else did she say?”

“She said she was doing some searching. Then she said that someone was there. Then the part about them not being our parents and she had to go.”

“Okay, let’s back up. Where is there? Where was she?”

She made a sharp sound of frustration. “I don’t know! She didn’t say!”

Nathan smoothed his hands up her arms and squeezed her shoulders. “You said that you wouldn’t communicate with her in the past because you were afraid you’d see her surroundings. Did you see anything this time? Think about it. Go back over it in your mind.”

Shea closed her eyes, her brow drawn in concentration. He could feel the tension radiating from her in waves. Then her eyes flew open, her lips parting in a gasp.

“Nathan, she was at our house! In our living room! Oh my God, she went back.”

“Did you sense anything else? Did you see who was there? Did you pick up any impressions from her?”

Shea shook her head, her lips twisted into a grimace. “She was afraid. Startled. Nathan, we have to go there. She could be in serious trouble. What if they have her?”

“Whoa, wait a minute. I’m not putting you into the open. And I’m damn sure not letting you go back to a place you’ve already been hunted. They killed your parents, Shea.”

“We have to get there,” she argued. “It’s not too far. Up the coast north of Lincoln City.”

Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. “You’re telling me that the place you lived, the place where some ass**les murdered your parents and you fled for your life, is only a few hours from here? Mind telling me what the hell you’re doing so close to the area they almost got you in the first place?”

Shea shot him a quelling look. “I’ve been all over the damn country in the last year. I’ve tried to be unpredictable. I’d hoped that this was the last place they’d think to look for me. When I first made connection with you, I was in the Midwest.”

“That’s damn well where you should have stayed,” he growled. “Or at least as far away from here as you could.”