“If there’s no evidence that you killed anyone, then all we have on you is kidnapping. You might be able to plead down. You let him go, the courts will go easy on you. You’re a smart, attractive young woman without a record.”

Her eyes flickered, and Regan wondered if there was more about Rachel’s past that they didn’t know. Something that might make the courts not go easy on her.

Also, Regan had already mentioned Nicole, and Rachel hadn’t denied Regan’s theory. Rachel was weighing everything, who knew what and how she could get out of this situation. Regan could practically see the wheels turning in her head.

She wished Rachel wasn’t holding Lucas so close, plus Lucas was injured. She needed to find a way to signal Lucas when to run. He kept looking right and left, as if he wanted to bolt, but didn’t move out of fear or because he was injured worse than it appeared.

“Stop moving toward the mine,” Regan ordered. “Is this how you want to be remembered? A fugitive, kidnapping a college kid, fleeing police, dying in the middle of nowhere?”

“I’m not going to die! I’m not going to prison.”

“Let Lucas go, and I’ll let you leave.”

“I’m not an idiot, Regan.”

“Walk with Lucas to your Jeep, get in, and leave. I’m not a cop. I can’t arrest you.”

“You’re not going to let me go.”

“I will, as long as you don’t hurt Lucas.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Rachel was now at the mine entrance. Her knife cut into Lucas; blood seeped through his white shirt. Regan didn’t like this. It didn’t seem that Rachel even realized what she was doing.

“I know who’s down in the mine,” said Regan. “Adele Overton and Joseph Abernathy. You killed him, made it seem like he left town after he supposedly killed Candace.”

Rachel stared at her as if Regan had read her mind.

Regan continued. “You thought you could kill Lucas and add his body to the collection. But if you kill Lucas, I will kill you. You have until the count of three. Drop the knife, or I take you down. One.”

“You can’t shoot me. I’m unarmed.”

“Two.”

Rachel pulled Lucas with her into the mine. But as she did so, her hand hit the wood planks, and the knife fell to the ground.

Regan ran toward them. Rachel looked like she wanted to pick up the knife but saw Regan coming and disappeared into the mine, still holding Lucas.

Regan followed. “Lucas!”

She couldn’t see anything at first, completely blind in the dark, only a thin beam of light coming through the opening.

To her right was movement, but she couldn’t tell if it was Rachel or Lucas, so she couldn’t shoot.