Mountain Hostage by Hope White

Author:Hope White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-11-07T19:11:21+00:00

* * *

Zoe spent a few hours at the inn reading Shannon’s journal and making notes. She had a pretty good idea about what to do next, who to talk to. She’d continue speaking with work associates, then people from church.

She flopped back on the bed and sighed. Please, Lord, let them find Shannon.

As she lay there praying, trying to relax and get out of fight-or-flight mode, something Jeanie said popped into the forefront of her mind: On Fridays I’d leave cash beneath the bear statue out back and she’d put drugs in my backpack.

They’d made the exchange anonymously. Anyone could have been selling Jeanie drugs and claiming to be Shannon.

“I still don’t believe it.” Zoe sat up, determined. She needed to do something besides hide out in this room and pray.

But she didn’t have her car, or know anyone who could drive her. Her driver was otherwise indisposed by his real work: finding Shannon.

Glancing at the clock, she realized it was nearly six. Marsha, the innkeeper, said she and her husband would put out light refreshments from four to six. Hopefully they hadn’t been cleared away.

Zoe brushed her hair in the private bathroom, put on a fleece in case it was chilly downstairs and went in search of food.

A crackling fire warmed the main living area. Beside the fireplace was a serving table with a pot of coffee, tea and snacks. She approached the table and her mouth watered at the sight of a cheese and fruit plate, scones and butter cookies.

“Hello?” she said, wanting to share her thanks. No one responded. She seemed to be completely alone.

When Zoe checked in, Marsha had said she might go out for supplies, but Zoe had hoped she’d be available for an afternoon chat. Zoe wouldn’t mind the distraction of light conversation, otherwise she’d keep worrying about Jack, Shannon and the mission.

She poured tea into a purple-and-pink-floral china cup, put grapes and strawberries on a plate and plucked a scone from the serving tray.

As she took a bite of the scone, the lights went out, plunging her into darkness. She stifled a gasp.

They’d found her.

Instinct drove her to crouch behind a Queen Anne chair for cover, although it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to find her back there. Staying out of sight, she quietly set her plate and cup on the floor. She wished she had something with which to defend herself, but how could she have known going for snacks would put her in danger?

Then again, she should assume she was always in danger until they found Shannon.

The click of a door echoed from the kitchen.

She held her breath. Don’t make a sound.

She carefully slipped off her shoes. Waited.

Floorboards creaked, announcing someone’s presence. If it was one of the innkeepers, or even a guest, they’d speak out, right?

Creak, creak.

The sound moved from the back of the house to the front, toward the stairs.

She could hear soft footsteps climbing the stairs to the second floor. She glanced up at the ceiling.

The intruder was upstairs.

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