Glad she had calmed, Erin kept her talking, one eye on the weapon resting against the young woman’s thigh. “I couldn’t figure out Harriet Knowles. What was the clue?”

“They were both from Philadelphia.” Jessica cocked her head quizzically. A student eager for praise, she asked, “Did you figure out the other ones?”

“Phoebe went to Juilliard, like Nathan. The Chinese artifact for Rose Young. The photo in Mr. Johnson’s cabin. And you took Maggie’s ring.” Erin realized instantly she’d gone too far.

“I saw you wearing his ring at school. He loved that ring.” Jessica aimed the gun at Erin’s finger. “I defiled her body, just like you did to Nathan’s. When you made me kill him.”

The confession froze Erin. “You? You killed him?”

Madness brightened her eyes and she nodded. “I had to. He went after you, left me there with Kendra’s body. He chose you over me. I knew about the cabin. I followed him to you. But you were too weak to save him from himself. I struck you with a branch.” Jessica smiled wanly. “The bullet had hit him in the stomach, but it wasn’t fatal. He begged for me to save him. Whining, mewling. A whimpering dog. He was supposed to be the master, but he was no better than a supplicant. I took the gun from you and stood over his body. He cried. The bastard cried. It wasn’t Nathan. Not my Nathan. I had to kill the impostor.”

“I didn’t kill him.” The knowledge ripped through her.

“But you took his ring.” Jessica stared at her hand. “Give it to me.”

Dazed, Erin looked past Jessica and saw her signal. She tucked her hand behind her back. “Come and get it.”

Chapter 28

Jessica lunged for Erin, who jumped out of her path. She ran for the door, stopped by a vicious tug on her hair. Erin lost her footing and fell. Kicking out, she knocked Jessica off-balance, and they both hit the ground.

Erin straddled Jessica’s writhing form. Jessica bucked and they tumbled over the rough wood and braided rugs. They wrestled for the gun, a haunting echo of two years before.

But this time, Erin was wide awake and furious. “You’re not going to win, Jessica!” She levered her body to aim a knee at the younger woman’s kidneys. The blow elicited a screech of pain, and Erin felt Jessica’s hands loosen on the gun. She heaved the weapon away.

This time, when glass shattered as Gabriel dived inside, Erin stood over a live body. Behind him, police officers swarmed into the cabin. Kind hands pried the gun from her rigid fingers. “We’ve got it now, ma’am.”