Alex nearly tripped over a box at the door. FedEx had found the cabin. Wait. Not in the middle of the night. Maybe it had been delivered to the main house and Owen or someone had brought it over.

He wouldn’t complain. He’d been expecting a package and quickly examined the sender’s information to make sure it was legit. He unlocked the cabin door, flipped on the lights, and cleared the two bedrooms. That was the best part—the cabin was easy to clear. The blinds were already drawn. Nothing smart about this cabin.

Mackenzie got Nora a glass of water and took it to where she waited on the sofa, face in her hands. Nora dropped her hands on Mackenzie’s approach.

“You can stay here tonight, Nora.” Mackenzie handed her the glass.

“Someone from the county will stop by later to talk to you and get your story,” Alex said. “I suspect they’ll be here any minute now.”

A knock came at the door.

“It’s Nathan.” Alex eyed them. “He’s going to take your statement, Nora.”

“I . . . I don’t want the police involved.” Her forehead crinkled.

“They were there to help tonight.”

He opened the door and stepped out to speak with Nathan. “Nora doesn’t want you involved.”

“And we aren’t, officially. We’re here to help as your friends, off-the-record, like you said.”

“I know that, but can you convince her?”

“Let me try.”

Alex opened the door for Nathan to enter and introduced Nora. For someone who hadn’t wanted to involve the police, Nora spilled the sordid tale easily enough to Nathan. When she was done, Nathan gestured for Alex to follow him out. Alex glanced back at Mackenzie.

“Come on, Nora,” she said. “You can have my room. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Alex stepped outside onto the porch with Nathan, who leveled his gaze. “What do you know about who is behind this?”

“Not a lot.” Which was true.

Nathan shook his head as he stalked out to his vehicle.

“Nathan, wait.” Alex followed him out. “I’ll tell you as soon as I can. I might need your help.”

The words didn’t seem to appease Nathan, who got in his vehicle and drove away. Alex sighed and grabbed his cell. His palms slicked against the smooth surface.

Think, Alex. Think. How did he explain everything succinctly and make his SSA understand?

Heart pounding, he made the call. The next few moments would alter his life forever. For good or for bad, he didn’t know. He only knew he had to make that call, and he might have waited too long already.

Mackenzie would shut him out completely once she knew.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Mackenzie ushered her sister into the bathroom.