Addison opened her eyes. The bald man was on the floor beside her, his head drowning in a pool of blood. She arced around, looked up. “Derek?”
He leaned Rose’s rifle against the wall and extended a hand, pulling her back on her feet. “Are you all right?”
“I … think so.” A wave of panic gripped her. “Derek … your mother! Luke! The man said, I mean, I don’t know, but we have to—”
Derek placed a hand on her wrist. “It’s okay. They’re all right. This man, whoever he is, locked them in the shed out back. I ran to the house to get the key to let them out and heard the window shatter.”
“You saved my life.”
Derek spread his arms to the side. “What in the hell happened in here anyway? Who is this guy? Why was he trying to kill you?”
“I need to see Luke,” Addison said. “Please. I have to know he’s all right. Then I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you everything.”
Sirens howled up the road, vehicles screeching to a stop in front of the manor. An army of footsteps ascended the stairs. Officer North led the way, his eyes bulging in disbelief when he realized the woman standing in front of him was the same woman he’d arrested at this same house before. “You, again?”
Addison half waved. “Uhh, hi.”
Lia sprung into the room, elbowing Officer North aside. She threw her arms around Addison. “You’re alive!”
A minute later, Luke and Rose had been freed, and they too entered the room. Luke pulled Addison to the side, planting a kiss on her lips. “I thought I lost you.”
Officer North rolled his eyes. “Okay, people. Everybody out. This is a crime scene, not a drive-in movie theater. Move this little reunion of yours somewhere else.”