Secrets Never Die (Morgan Dane #5)(75)

“Hi. Um. This is Rylee. Rylee Nelson.”

“Hello, Rylee.” Morgan waggled her fingers at Lance. Then she tilted the phone so that he could hear.

“I didn’t know who else to call.” Rylee sounded out of breath and her voice quivered.

“What’s wrong?” Morgan asked.

“It’s Evan.” The girl hesitated.

“Rylee, I can’t help unless you talk to me.”

Rylee breathed for a few seconds. “After you left our house, I went to the lake last night, just to sit in the dark and think. Evan was there.”

Lance jerked straight.

“Was he OK?” Morgan asked.

“No,” Rylee said. “He looked awful. I think he had a fever. I gave him some emergency supplies from my car: a blanket, water, protein bars . . .”

Lance folded his hands and clenched them together until his knuckles whitened.

Morgan touched his forearm. “How badly is he injured?”

“He was shot in the arm.” Rylee’s voice hitched. “He’s in really bad shape.”

Next to Morgan, Lance grabbed socks from a laundry basket.

Once Rylee started spilling her secret, the words poured out at rapid speed. “I don’t know if he can climb out of the cave. Evan asked me to call his mom. He gave me her number. He doesn’t trust anyone else, but his mom said she was being watched by a deputy. She didn’t know how long it would take her to sneak out. She asked me to call you. She doesn’t trust the cops either. She’s afraid they’re going to shoot Evan.”

Morgan didn’t believe the police would shoot a teenager on sight, but tension and adrenaline were factors. Local law enforcement was convinced that Evan was an armed killer. They would respond with that in the forefront of their minds.

“I promised I wouldn’t call the cops, but I’m afraid he’s gonna die.”

“Where is he?” Morgan cradled the phone between her shoulder and neck. She went to her dresser for socks and grabbed her boots from the closet. Lance retrieved their handguns from the gun safe.

“He’s at the falls,” Rylee said.

They’d been right. And no doubt, the sheriff would be there in the morning.

“We’re going to go get him right now, Rylee.” Morgan shoved her feet into her boots. “Where are you?”

“On the observation deck. Evan is hiding in a little cave at the bottom of the falls, but I couldn’t get any cell reception there. I had to climb higher.”

“Well done, Rylee. We’re on our way.”

“OK. Please hurry.”

Morgan reached for a waterproof jacket and turned to Lance. “You heard all that?”

“Yes.” He headed for the door. “You don’t have to come. If you want to stay with Sophie, I’ll be all right on my own.”

“You can’t go alone.” Morgan held up a hand. “That’s not up for discussion. Have you heard back from Sharp?”

“He sent me a text. I haven’t had a chance to read it.” Lance read his screen. “He’s in Albany with Olivia Cruz. They’re going to meet with Joe Martin. Actually, he sent this text hours ago. The meeting might be over by now.”

“Joe Martin is in Albany?” That was too close for comfort.

“That’s what the text says.” Lance pressed a button on his phone to return his boss’s call. “Sharp isn’t answering.”

“I’m not worried that Evan is going to shoot us. Are you?”

“No,” Lance agreed. “Can we call your sister? I trust her and her partner, Brody.”

Morgan dialed. “She isn’t answering her phone. I know she was working tonight, and Mac is still on a search and rescue in the Adirondacks. You’re stuck with me. Let’s go get Evan before this storm gets any worse.”

“I wouldn’t call it stuck. There’s no one I trust more.” Lance kissed her. “But I’d like us to have backup.”

“I know.” Morgan walked to him and put her hands on his biceps. “But Evan needs us now. He can’t wait. Besides, we’re just going to pick him up.”

“We’ll go alone and assess the situation. If it’s too dangerous, we’ll call for assistance. But I’d like to get him out of that cave to ensure he is unarmed. It would be safer for Evan if he voluntarily gave himself up.”

“Agreed.”

They checked in with Gianna and the kids, who were eating cookies in the dining room. Grandpa drank a mug of tea. Sophie sat on his knee.

Morgan quickly explained that they had to run out for a while.

From Grandpa’s grave expression, he clearly sensed the importance of their mission. He waved a hand. “Don’t worry about Sophie. Gianna and I won’t take our eyes off her. Go do what you have to do.”

Gianna nodded and reached out a hand to touch Sophie’s cheek, her affection for the child palpable. Gianna had become one of the family in every way.

Lance put on his boots on the way out the door. Morgan pulled up her hood and tucked in her hair as they ran out to the Jeep. The lake and falls were only a short drive from the house. Rain poured onto the windshield. The wipers could not move fast enough to keep the glass clear. Lance leaned over the wheel and squinted, his face tight with concentration.