So it wasn’t a sophisticated mini-bomb. It was a muzzle blast.

However, it was a muzzle blast far too loud for any normal handgun—which was why he hadn’t reached the right conclusion immediately.

But he did know at least one handgun that could produce a report of that magnitude.

And at least one individual with the accuracy and steadiness of hand required to put a bullet through a cell phone by moonlight.

His next thought was that the shooter must have fired into the room through one of the windows, and he instinctively dropped to a crouch, peering up at the window over the table. However, it was still closed and the panes illumined by the moonlight were unbroken. Meaning the shot must have come from one of the rear windows. But given the position of his body at the moment of impact, it was hard to see how the bullet could have reached the phone in his hand without passing through his shoulder.

So how …?

The answer arrived with a small shiver.

The shot hadn’t come from outside the cabin.

Someone was there, in the room, with him.

The realization came to him by sound rather than sight.

The sound of breathing.

Just a few feet away.

Slow, relaxed breathing.

Chapter 49

An Extremely Rational Man

As Gurney looked in the direction from which the sound was coming, he saw, interrupting the strip of silvery light across the cabin floor, a dark rectangle where the trapdoor had been opened. On the far side of the opening, there was just enough faintly reflected moonlight to suggest the presence of a standing figure.

A hoarse whisper confirmed the impression. “Sit at the table, Detective. Put your hands on top of your head.”

Gurney quietly followed the instructions.

“I have some questions. You must answer them quickly. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“If the answer is not quick, I will assume it’s a lie. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good. First question: Is Clinter coming here?”

“I don’t know.”

“You just told him on the phone not to come.”

“That’s right.”

“Do you expect him to come anyway?”

“He may. I don’t know. He’s not a predictable man.”

“That’s true. You must keep telling me the truth. The truth will keep you alive. You understand?”

“Yes.” Gurney sounded perfectly calm, as he often did in extreme situations. But inside, at that moment, he was full of fear and fury. Fear of the situation he’d walked into and fury at the arrogant miscalculation that had put him there.