The Last Sister (Columbia River)(88)

Sweat formed along her spine at the thought of being spotted by Harlan, but he was focused on searching the other side of the park.

Her hair blew around her face, and the poor light along with the crash of the waves far below made her wobble.

Harlan continued to rant. His shouts would get closer and then move away as he changed direction, his voice often hard to hear over the roar of the ocean.

Anxiety and strain fueled his words; the police had to be close. The sirens had stopped, making Emily assume they’d reached the gate. They’ll walk up the road, right? The park hadn’t opened for the spring yet, and she doubted the police had contacted the parks department for a key.

Madison would meet them.

Emily’s level area near the fence suddenly narrowed, and she clung to the bottom rail to keep moving. Terror swamped her, and she pushed away the memory of clinging to rocks and weeds, screaming for her father. She moved on, one knee in front of the other. The ledge widened, and she paused to catch her breath, her heart pounding.

Keep going.

She glanced behind her, distressed at how short a distance she’d come.

Keep going.

She continued to move, feeling as if an hour had passed. Then she saw Tara.

Her sister was on the ocean side of a giant rock, where the land broadened sufficiently. It was the same rock where their parents had posed for the photo. The space between Tara and the drop-off was narrow. In that spot it was less likely Harlan would see her if he came to the fence.

But not a perfect hiding spot.

Her sister lay as close as possible to the rock. She was very still. Emily scooted closer, “Tara,” she whispered.

Tara’s head lifted. “Emily?” Her voice was weak.

As she reached Tara, Emily took her hand. It was wet and sticky. Shocked, Emily nearly dropped it, and the odor reached her nose. Blood.

In the poor light, she saw that Tara’s pants were glossy with blood.

“Where are you hurt?”

“My side.” Tara’s right hand was clamped against it. “I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not,” Emily said. She slipped off her coat, lifted Tara’s hand, and pressed it against the wound. Her sister gasped but replaced her hand to hold it.

“I want you to help Wendy with Bella,” Tara whispered.

“Not now, Tara.” Emily arranged the coat, her throat tightening.

“Wendy can do it, but I want you and Madison in Bella’s life.”

“Cut it out! You’re not going to die.” Emily gritted her teeth, terrified she was lying.

“Harlan threatened to kill all of you unless I left town.”

“I figured,” Emily whispered, her heart cracking in half.

“When I heard Mom died, I thought he was carrying out his promise. I’ve been terrified ever since—looking over my shoulder nonstop. When my husband died, I believed for months that Harlan had caused the accident.”

“Oh, Tara. Why didn’t you go to the police?”

“I couldn’t trust anyone. Harlan told me there were several people involved.”

Who?

“He’ll never stop hunting me,” said Tara. “He met me here because I said I wanted to talk. I brought a gun—I planned to kill him,” she whispered harshly. “I just wanted a life where I wasn’t petrified every day and didn’t worry that he might hurt my daughter.” Tara’s words grew slower and slower. “I chickened out when I had the chance to shoot him first. He shot me, and I shot back.” She laughed almost silently. “Then I dropped the fucking gun but managed to get to the woods. He never planned to talk; he came here to kill me too.”

“Where did you drop the gun?”

“No. You can’t do that!”

“Where did you drop the gun?”

Tara exhaled. “By the swing set. You’ll never make it. He’ll see you.”

“I have to try.”





36

“Zander!”

The female voice came from the trees to his right, and he halted his dash up the road. A light shone in his eyes. He raised a hand to block it. “Madison?”

“Where are the police?” She lowered her light.

“They’re coming. Where’s Emily?”

“She stayed with Tara. We think she was shot—”

“By Harlan?” Zander continued up the road, Madison following.

“Yes! How did you know?”

“His car is at the gate. I think he’s the one who fired at Emily yesterday.”

“He’s going to kill Tara if someone doesn’t stop him.”

“How much farther is it?”

“The parking lot is just around the next bend. He was at the far end, and Emily was headed to find Tara on the ocean side of the fence.”

“Where?”

“Beyond the fence there is a big drop-off, but there’s a little room in some spots. People aren’t supposed to cross the fence—the land’s unstable.”

Fuck.

Emily and Tara are on that side of the fence.

“Go down the road. Tell the deputies coming up that he’s armed, and that me and two other women are here.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Stop him.” He took off at a dead run.