But Riley had other ideas. “I gotta go, too,” he announced, and he lumbered off. Ellie glared at Baxter, but he didn't follow Riley. Maybe he thought it would look too suspicious for him to go so soon after coming back with Ellie.

After a minute or so, however, they heard a terrible commotion from outside the cottage. Everyone jumped to their feet, except Charles, who was tied up, and Baxter, who was already standing.

“What the hell is going on?” Cecil demanded.

Baxter shrugged.

Ellie's hand flew to her mouth. Oh God, Riley didn't know that he was working for her now, and if he'd found Helen or Leavey outside…

“Riley!” Cecil yelled.

All of Ellie's worst fears were realized when Riley thundered back into the room, holding Helen close to his body, a knife pressed against her throat. “Look what I found!” he cackled.

“Helen?” Cecil said, looking amused.

“Cecil?” Helen didn't look amused at all.

“Baxter!” Ellie shouted in a panicked voice. He needed to let Riley know the change in plans now. She watched in horror as Cecil sidled up next to Helen and yanked her next to him. His back was to Ellie, however, and she used his inattention to grab one of the pistols strapped to her legs and hide it under the folds of her skirt.

“Helen, you really shouldn't have come,” Cecil said, his voice practically a croon.

“Baxter, tell him now!” Ellie yelled.

Cecil whirled around to face her. “Tell who what?”

Ellie didn't even stop to think. She whipped up the pistol, cocked it, and pulled the trigger. The explosion jolted her clear up to her shoulder and knocked her back to the bed.

Cecil's face was a picture of surprise as he clutched his chest near his collarbone. Blood seeped through his fingers. “You bitch,” he hissed. He raised his gun.

“Nooooo!” Charles yelled, pitching forward from his chair and hurling himself at Cecil. His aim wasn't good, but he managed to hit his cousin in the legs, and Cecil's arm was thrown up in the air before he pulled the trigger.

Ellie felt a burst of pain in her arm as she heard Helen scream her name. “Oh my God,” she whispered in shock. “He shot me.” Then her shock was replaced by anger. “He shot me!” she exclaimed. She looked up just in time to see Cecil readjusting his aim on Charles. Before Ellie even had time to think, she reached down with her good arm, grabbed her other pistol, and fired it at Cecil.

Silence fell over the room, and this time there was no doubt that he was dead.

Riley was still holding a knife to Helen's throat, but now he looked like he didn't know what to do with her. Finally Baxter said, “Let 'er go, Riley.”

“What?”

“I said let her go.”

Riley dropped his knife arm and Helen ran to Ellie's side.

“Oh, Ellie,” Helen cried out. “Are you badly hurt?”

Ellie ignored her and glared at Baxter. “A fat lot of good you were.”