I Will Find You (A SECRETS & LIES NOVEL) by Daphne Benedis-Grab

Author:Daphne Benedis-Grab [Benedis-Grab, Daphne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2023-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

“Okay,” Gracie said, taking a deep breath. “I know this is a hit but we need to keep searching.”

Leo nodded with none of his usual energy.

Olivia gave a half shrug.

This would not do. They had to keep going. “Here’s the plan,” she announced. “We’re going to follow the creek and look for any sign of someone coming out of the water. Because at some point Nicky had to get out.”

“The bushes and stuff are too dense,” Olivia pointed out.

That was true—they weren’t going to be able to walk right along the creek. But the path followed it pretty closely and they could duck into the woods and check in places with a little more space between trees.

So that was what they did, Gracie leading the way. No one spoke and the silence was heavy. Not that it was ever really silent in the woods of course—there were birds, the muffled sounds of chipmunks and squirrels, and the whisper of leaves as the breeze blew. The air smelled like fall: crunchy leaves, smoke from the fireplace at the lodge, and the tiniest hint of snow holding the promise of winter. But then Gracie caught a whiff of a new scent, one that got stronger as they rounded the bend and neared Cobra cabin.

“Something smells off in that cabin,” Gracie said, her nose scrunching. Off wasn’t actually the word for the aroma wafting toward her from Cobra: vile and disgusting were more accurate. It smelled, inexplicably, like her nose nemesis: filthy, sweaty socks.

Olivia sniffed loudly, then glanced quizzically at Gracie. “I don’t smell anything. Let’s just keep going.”

“It might be dangerous in there,” Leo added. “Remember Ms. Becker said it was off-limits.”

But Gracie smelled something and she needed to know what it was. “I’ll just be a second,” she told them.

She strode up the small path to Cobra, ducking under the rope and past the DO NOT ENTER: CONSTRUCTION ZONE sign hanging on the porch rail. Her feet were strong and sure as she marched up the steps, twisted the doorknob, and stepped inside.

And then let out an ear-piercing scream.

Olivia was behind her immediately, close and comforting and smelling of lilac body wash. “What is it?” she asked, her voice steel.

Despite her terrible shock, Gracie could not help but appreciate that Olivia had rushed toward Gracie’s scream, not away. Whatever had happened, Olivia was not deserting her to handle it alone.

And Gracie did not need to explain because Olivia was suddenly gripping Gracie’s upper arm so hard she winced: Olivia had just seen what was in the cabin.

Or more accurately, who was in the cabin.

“Nicky!” Olivia roared. “Are you kidding me?”

Because the cause of Gracie’s scream was indeed Nicky. He had been lying on the front-room bed doing something on his phone, which had fallen to the floor when he’d leapt up at Gracie’s scream.

“Careful, he has a weapon!” Leo shouted as he sprinted in, waving his arms.

“What are you doing here?” Nicky asked, his eyes darting back and forth. Gracie noted

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