Bred in the Bone (Widow's Island #4)(18)

Judging by the negative reaction of the other deputies, Henry guessed they thought he was nuts.

“Where does it end, Mickey?” asked Henry.

“Dunno.”

“I can’t send someone down there,” Gunderson muttered. “It looks like something out of Vietnam.”

“It can’t go far,” said Henry. “Can you imagine the effort it took to dig that?”

“You’re right.” Gunderson proceeded to divide up the men to search the immediate area for the end of the tunnel. He gestured for Henry to step aside with him. “I’m calling child services,” he said in a low voice. “Can you keep an eye on him until they get here?”

Henry agreed.

He walked Mickey back to the clearing and found Cate standing outside Samantha’s shed. She wiped her eyes as they walked up.

“Where is everyone?” she asked. Her question wavered with the tiniest inflection.

“They found a tunnel entrance behind the house, and now they’re looking for the end.”

Surprise crossed her gaze. “So that’s how he got away.” She glanced at Mickey. “I want to get Samantha checked out at a hospital.”

“I agree—”

“Her name is Kristin,” interrupted Mickey.

“She told me that,” Cate told him in a somber voice. “I knew her a long time ago when we were kids, and her name was Samantha back then.”

“Kids?” The boy’s nose wrinkled.

“Hard to believe your mom was your age at one time, isn’t it? I think she’d like to talk to you now.” Her smile was forced, a tremor in her words.

Mickey headed into Samantha’s shed, Bishy following.

Once the boy vanished, Cate took one step and fell into Henry’s arms with a small cry. He pulled her tight against his chest, wishing they weren’t wearing the ballistic vests, but until Travis was found or they left the property, the vests were staying on. Regardless, he felt her quiver. She buried her face against his neck and quietly sobbed. He was in shock over finding Samantha, but Cate’s shock had to be ten times stronger.

“She’s a wreck,” Cate said, gulping to catch her breath between tears. “She can’t stop crying and shaking.”

“Sorta like you right now.”

Her small jolt of laughter warmed him, but her tears flowed stronger.

“We came here believing she’d been dead for twenty years. And instead we found her.” Wonder filled Cate’s voice. “I knew instantly it was her. Her voice, her profile, the way she moved her head. I had no doubt.”

“She’s been in your thoughts recently.”

“I’ve been poring over photos of her since we decided to look into her case. I’ve got to call her mother.” She shuddered. “I don’t know if I can speak to her about it yet. It’s amazing but so awful too.”

“I can do it.”

“No, Tessa or I should call her. And then we’ll put Samantha on.”

“Has she said much about her time here?”

“No. We’ve primarily been talking about home.” She met his gaze, concern radiating. “We need to get her out of here. She’s terrified he’ll return.”

“I’ll find someone to drive us.”

“Mickey needs to come with us,” Cate added.

“No question. He should be with his mother, but Gunderson is calling child services to come get him.”

“No!” She stiffened in his arms. “Dammit. Samantha can’t take care of him at the moment, and they’ll never release him to me—I’m not a relative.”

“Sounds like you better call Sam’s mother right away.”

“I’ll do it right now.” She pulled back, and he instantly missed her touch. “Can you ask Gunderson to come here? I assume he’ll want to talk to Sam’s mom before he allows Mickey to go with us. If he says a verbal agreement over the phone isn’t enough, he’ll have me and the entire Bellingham FBI office to answer to.” She turned her head, eyeing Sam’s shed. “I can’t comprehend what she’s been through. She’ll carry this forever.”

“But because of you and Tessa, her nightmare is over.”

Thoughtful eyes met his. “Is it?”



Cate was done with being inside the foul-smelling shed. A bucket in the corner was the source of the smell.

When’s the last time Sam used a real toilet?

She dragged a chair outside for Samantha to sit in, and then she and Tessa helped Samantha bundle up. They put on her socks, which were full of holes, and her shoes, which were way too big. No coat was found, so they used every blanket from her bed. Samantha squinted outdoors in the natural light and took deep breaths. Cate did the same; she’d never take fresh air for granted again.

“We need to call your mom,” Cate told her. “You can’t take care of Mickey while you’re in the hospital, so we need a relative to agree to take him. Are you ready?”

Samantha’s chin quivered. “Yes. I might not be able to do anything more than cry, though.”

“I think that would be just fine.”

Cate sent her grandmother a quick text, asking her to go to Marsha Bishop’s home immediately because she shouldn’t be alone for the next few hours.