Page 31 of Twilight Tactics

They followed the horseshoe-shaped edge of the clearing to reach the tower’s base. “Seems like it might be stupid to go up,” he said. “We’d just trap ourselves.”

“We’re not going up. We’re just going to make them think we did.” Elena studied the structure. The metal staircase creaked in the wind, the observation cabin swayed ever so slightly. Just enough to make her a bit nauseous at the thought of being in it.

“Good idea. I donotwant to climb up there. What do you have in mind?”

“A stupid plan, but unfortunately, it’s all I’ve got.”

“Then it’s better than what I have. I don’t even have a stupid plan.”

She dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out a pocketknife. She cut a strip of material off her shirt. “I honestly don’t think they’ll be fooled by this, but it won’t hurt to try. Even if they don’t believe we’re up there, they may want to make sure.”

“I’ll take it. That looks pretty rickety to me.”

“Exactly. I weigh a lot less than you.” Before he could protest, she started climbing. The rusted metal creaked and groaned, and she pretty much expected it to collapse, but so far, so good. She found a sharp piece of metal and stuck the fabric on it. From her position, she could see their pursuers coming. If they looked up, they’d see her.

They stopped, and one pointed toward the tower but didn’t turn his gaze her way. She stepped down slowly, praying the movement wouldn’t catch someone’s peripheral vision.

“Come on, come on,” Sully called to her, his voice quiet but urgent.

Elena continued her snail-paced downward climb, and finally her feet hit the ground. “I think I did it,” she said, her voice soft.

“Definitely, but they’re closing in. Let’s get out of here. We’re not waiting around to see if this worked.”

He motioned for her to take the lead once more.

“The tower!” The shout reached her and she picked up her pace.

“They’re up there!”

Elena pulled in a shuddering breath. She couldn’t believe that plan actually worked. Once they were out of hearing distance, she looked at Sully. “What do you think all that was about? ‘It’s time’—for what?”

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t sound good. I need to get back ASAP and fill Piper in. We may have to move Ollie again.”

She nodded. “I don’t know which girl they were referring to.”

“Exactly, butnottaking a chance they meant Ollie...”

“Right.”

They finally reached the horses, climbed on, and aimed them toward the ranch.

An hour and a half later, Elena dismounted while Sully did the same. Once they’d turned the animals over to one of the grooms, they hurried toward the cabin that housed Piper and Ollie.

Only to find it empty.

“Where would they go?” Sully asked.

“Could be anywhere,” Elena said. “They think they’re safe here.” And the truth was, they might very well be. Would they be sounding the alarm for nothing? Traumatizing the teen over something that wasn’t even related to her?

Yet if they didn’t take every precaution and she ended up dead ... well, that wasn’t an option.

Sully got on his phone now that he had a signal again. It went straight to voicemail. “Piper, call me when you get this. I need to know where you and Ollie are.”

“Come on,” Elena said, “we’ll ask if anyone saw them leave.”

“Let me check the kitchen and see if she left a note anywhere.”

A note? When she could call or text? Elena thought not but didn’t argue. The man needed to do it. She called Maya. “Where are you?”