Maddie jumped to her feet. “Ryan, call for help.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It sounded like someone broke into Dr. Carver’s house.”
“Dispatch, this is Officer McBride,” he spoke into his radio. “I’ve got a suspected breaking and entering at...” He trailed off as he glanced at Maddie. “Where does she live?”
Maddie gave him the address. She’d been called to the doctor’s house when her husband fell off a ladder and needed transport to the hospital.
“There was an accident on Highway 2. It might take twenty minutes to get a unit there,” Dispatch said.
“That’s too long. We can make it in ten,” Maddie said.
“What’s this ‘we’ stuff?”
“Let’s go.” Maddie grabbed her brother’s arm and pulled him toward the door.
“Chief ordered us to stay in the cabin.”
“Someone’s got to help her, Ryan.”
“I’ll call Adam to relieve me.”
“There’s no time for that. Come on, Ry. I’ll stay in the car until you secure the scene.” Maddie rushed outside.
* * *
Communicating via text messages with Maddie had given Spence a great sense of calm. But it was time to focus and get ready for the perpetrator he hoped was on the way. Spence should have thought of this plan sooner, luring the guy out of hiding so Spence and the police could be in control for a change. It could have saved his reputation for sure. But more importantly, it would have kept a lot of people out of danger, especially Maddie.
When the violence was over and the case solved, what would happen to Maddie and him then? Maddie was a lovely, smart and positive woman, someone he could see himself traveling with, spending a week hiking in the Canadian Rockies. Her grounded nature pulled him away from the edge of panic, but there was more to it than that. She had faith in him, which felt...good.
Nate gave Spence a signal and put his finger to his lips. He must have heard something outside. Spence and Detective Vaughn shared a glance, readying themselves.
They’d shared their plan with Spence when he got to the cabin. Spence would pretend to be having a temper flare-up, going through files and looking for supposed evidence against hospital board members and staff.
Nate and the detective would hide out and wait for the assailant to break in. Spence hoped his performance had been convincing and word had spread that about him wanting revenge on the hospital. Drawing the perpetrator into their trap was a solid plan, but if he didn’t get the message, Spence might have torched his reputation for nothing.
Detective Vaughn motioned to the bedroom. As they intensely focused on sounds coming from that part of the cabin, the tension threatened to trigger a headache.
No, he would not be thrown off because of that first assault in the mountains and subsequent concussion. Nate stood on one side of the bedroom door and Detective Vaughn on the other side. Nate motioned for Spence to continue going through files and shouting words of frustration against his enemies.
“They’ll never get away with his!” he shouted. “Firing me? What right did they have to fire me?” Spence threw a mug across the room, shattering it to pieces. “They won’t ruin my career with their accusations!”
A squeak from the other room indicated the guy had opened the newly-installed bedroom window.
“They’re all going down, starting with the ego-driven Vince Brunson, then Barbara and—”
“Nobody’s going down, Doc.”
Spence glanced up. At first he didn’t recognize the man because he’d shaved his beard, and his hair was blond instead of dark brown. He must have altered his appearance to elude authorities, but there was no doubt in Spence’s mind: this was the man who broke into his cabin.
“What are you doing here?” Spence said.
“Finishing what I started.” He stood just inside the bedroom as if skittish to join Spence in the main living area. He couldn’t know there were two police officers flanking the bedroom door, could he?
“Why are you trying to kill me?” Spence said.
“You’re bad for business.”
“What business?”
Nate stepped into the doorway and aimed his gun at the perp. “Drop the weapon.”
The guy didn’t move at first, then let the gun slip from his fingertips. It hit the ground with a clunk.
“Turn around, hands behind your head,” Nate ordered.
Detective Vaughn stepped closer, gun drawn.
Spence didn’t move, wasn’t sure what to do. It was over, well not completely, but at least the direct physical threat had been neutralized.
“I said turn around,” Nate repeated.
The guy slowly turned, putting his hands behind his head. Nate grabbed his wrists and secured them behind his back with cuffs.
“Get in here and sit down.” Nate shoved him into a living room chair.
“Hey, Chief,” Detective Vaughn said, holding the perp’s gun in her hand. “It’s Officer Carrington’s gun.”
“So you’re the guy who assaulted my officer the other night? You’re just racking up the charges. What’s your name?”
“Tom Wick.”
“Tom Wick, you’re under arrest,” Nate said, and read him his rights.
Spence stepped around the kitchen island and approached the man, who was in his twenties. “Wait, Wick as in Wicker?”
Tom snapped his gaze to Spence.
“What’s a wicker?” Nate said.
“Wicker is the name of the guy who deals pills to kids like Gwen.”
“Is that right, Wicker?” Nate said.
Clenching his jaw, the guy glanced beyond Nate at the door.
“So this was about drugs?” Spence asked Tom.
“Sure,” he said, sarcastic.
“Let’s lock him up, Chief,” Vaughn said.
“Ya know, Mr. Wick, once we shut the cell door, it’s over,” Nate said. “But if you cooperate, tell us who else is involved, we could advocate for you.”
Tom shot him a look of disbelief, and went back to staring at the door.
Spence stepped into Tom’s sight line. “Why me?”
Tom looked away.
“What do you think, Detective Vaughn?” Nate said.
“He doesn’t deserve any mercy, that’s for sure,” she said.
Yet Spence had learned from Maddie that everyone, even criminals, deserved mercy.
“I don’t know. I think he wants to talk to us, don’t you, Tom?” Nate pushed.
Tom glared at Nate. “Lawyer.”
Nate held his gaze, probably trying to intimidate him into changing his mind. Instead, Tom snapped his attention toward the windows and his eyes rounded with fear.
“No!” Tom jumped to his feet.
Nate shoved him back in the chair. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Fire!” Tom shouted.
Spence, Nate and the detective were so focused on Tom they didn’t see the bright orange flames crawling up the windows.
“Bedroom!” Nate shouted.
He grabbed Tom by the arm and pulled him to his feet. They ran into the bedroom, but flames sprang up across those windows, as well.
“Grab blankets,” Spence ordered. “We’ll soak them with water and make a run for it.”
“We’re gonna burn!” Tom shouted.
Spence pulled blankets off his bed, and Detective Vaughn grabbed one from the sofa. Spence flipped on the kitchen sink and quickly soaked each blanket. He worked best in a crisis, which was what made him a good ER doc.
After he and Detective Vaughn doused the blankets, they each took one.
“It’ll help get us out without being burned,” Spence said, grabbing the fire extinguisher.
“When you get outside, hit the ground and roll,” Spence said. “I’ll be waiting with the fire extinguisher. Keep your eyes closed when I blast you with the CO2.”
Nate and Spence shared a knowing look.
“See you out there,” Spence said.
Gripping the knob with the edge of the wet blanket, Spence whipped open the door and sprinted through the flames. Once free and clear of the fire, he dropped the fire extinguisher, hit the ground and rolled, smothering any residual embers on his clothes.
He jumped up, grabbed the fire extinguisher and turned to assist the others. With a guttural cry, Detective Vaughn sprinted out of the cabin, tossed the blanket and hit the ground.
“Close your eyes!” Spence shouted, and got her with a few short bursts of CO2.
“I’m okay, I’m okay,” she said, and jumped to her feet.
The sound of a car speeding away drew his attention. “Look!”
“I’ll try and get a plate number!” She took off in foot pursuit.
Spence refocused on the cabin, anxious for Nate and Tom to get out of there. What was taking them so long? They should have been right behind Detective Vaughn.
Spence got as close as possible. “Nate!”
Did they find another way out? Then a horrible thought struck Spence: What if Tom assaulted Nate and the perp went out another way?
“Go, go, go!” Nate shouted.
The two men burst from the burning cabin, Nate shoving Tom from behind. They both hit the ground and Spence shot them with the CO2.
“I’m good,” Nate said, standing.
Spence examined Tom. “You okay? Were you burned?”
Tom gasped for breath, eyes wide.
“He was having some kind of attack,” Nate said. “I had a hard time getting him out of there.”
Spence noted Tom’s labored breathing. “Asthma?” Spence asked.
Tom nodded.
Spence searched Tom’s pockets and found his inhaler, held it to his mouth and administered the medicine. “Try to relax. You’re safe now.”
Detective Vaughn raced up to them. “I called in a description of the assailant’s car. Units will be on the lookout. Emergency fire and paramedics are on the way.”
“They’ll send the engine from Wallace County,” Spence said. “It’s closer.”
Nate glanced at the fire consuming the cabin, then back at Spence. “Man, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah,” Spence said.
Grief settled across Spence’s shoulders. He’d helped build the cabin with a local contractor. Even though he hadn’t planned to stay in Echo Mountain forever, it was his home, a place where he felt safe, and at peace. The locals had embraced him in a way no one else ever had.
A flash of memory drifted across his thoughts: Maddie in the kitchen singing her heart out. He would have enjoyed cooking a meal for her in his cabin.
“Good thing you cleared out the trees around the cabin or this thing could’ve gotten outta hand,” Nate said.
“Which is why I did it. Plus the humidity and moist ground will discourage the fire from jumping.”
“So now the question is, who set the fire? You?” Nate said, hovering over Tom.
Tom shook his head, his breathing strained. “No, no fire. Only—” he gasped “—give the doc an overdose. Make it look like suicide.”
“Why?” Spence said.
Tom shook his head.
“Don’t shake your head,” Nate said. “Answer him.”
“He paid me...five thousand.”
“You were going to kill a man for five thousand dollars,” Nate said, his tone flat.
“And stay out of jail...for dealing drugs,” Tom admitted.
“The guy who hired you to kill Dr. Spencer is linked to the drug activity?” Nate said.
Tom focused on his breathing and stared straight ahead, the flames reflecting in his eyes.
“Let’s go.” Nate pulled him to his feet.
“The paramedics should check him out, Nate,” Spence said.
“He’s fine.” Nate tossed Vaughn the keys and she went to get the car, which they’d hidden from view.
“Nate,” Spence said. “I can’t let you take him in until he’s officially checked out.”
“This guy tried to kill you, what, five times, and you’re worried about his condition?”
“Five times?” Tom said.
“Unless you can’t count,” Nate snapped.
“I stole the girl’s phone and passed it to someone. I broke into his cabin twice. That’s it.”
Nate got in Tom’s face. “You used her phone to lure Spence into the mountains, where you tried to kill him. That’s how this all started.”
Tom vehemently shook his head.
“And you attacked me in the hospital, hijacked the ambulance with me in back and tossed a smoke bomb into my cabin,” Spence said.
“No, not me. I stole the phone and broke into your cabin twice—the first time to kidnap you, and tonight to drug you.”
“Who hired you?” Spence said.
“I don’t know.”
Nate narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t!” Tom protested. “Got instructions from text messages.”
Sirens wailed as emergency vehicles motored down the main road to the cabin.
“We’ll figure this out at the station,” Nate said.
* * *
Maddie and Ryan pulled up outside Dr. Carver’s house, set back on secluded property. Ryan turned off the engine and looked at her. “I mean it, Maddie. Stay in the car. Do not get out, do not come looking for me. And lock the doors.”
“Okay, okay.”
Ryan got out of the SUV and pointed through the window. She hit the lock button and mouthed “thank you.”
She watched him climb the front porch to Dr. Carver’s house and hesitate. That’s when she realized the door was ajar. He withdrew his firearm, eased the door open and disappeared inside.
Maddie waited for what seemed like forever. She checked her watch. Only a few minutes had passed. Oh, how she wished the paramedics and police would arrive.
She grew anxious. What if Dr. Carver was injured and needed medical help? No, Ryan would surely text her.
Her anxiety made sense considering the call from Ruth, plus Spence’s plan to set himself up as bait to draw out the bad guy. Maddie knew they had probably turned off their phones, but she felt the need to make a connection with him all the same. She called him but it went into voice mail.
“Hey, Spence. So I’m sitting outside Dr. Carver’s house, kind of freaking out here because we think someone broke in, and I wanted to say, I’ll be glad when all this is over. I know that challenging times help us appreciate the good times and all that, but, well, I wanted to say I’m looking forward to grabbing pizza with you, or going to Healthy Eats, if that’s your thing. Anyway, I hope everything went well tonight.”
A flash of movement caught her eye. It was Dr. Carver stumbling on the fringe of her property.
“Oh no.” Maddie pocketed her phone and jumped out of the car.
As she jogged toward the doctor, she considered how upset Ryan would be with her right now. But she couldn’t sit here and watch the woman wander off into the surrounding forest.
“Dr. Carver?” she called out.
She kept walking, heading toward the trees, wavering from side to side. As Dr. Carver passed by a shed, she stumbled and collapsed. Maddie rushed to her side.
“Dr. Carver? Ruth?”
Maddie took her pulse. It was solid at eighty beats per minute. She pulled her penlight off her keychain and checked her pupils. They were dilated. Had someone drugged her, as well? Maddie pulled out her phone to text Ryan.
A firm hand shoved a cloth over her mouth. She punched and kicked, but couldn’t stop what she suspected was chloroform from shutting down her brain.
Her arms weakened and her legs lost their fight. Darkness consumed her as someone dragged her into the forest.
* * *
After Tom was treated at the scene, Nate, Detective Vaughn and Spence headed to the police station. Spence struggled to fill in the blanks as he watched Tom say something to Nate through the one-way glass. Probably asking for his lawyer again.
The door opened and Nate motioned to Spence. “He says he wants to talk to you.”
Joining Nate and Detective Vaughn in the interrogation room, Spence sat across the table from Tom.
Tom finally looked up. “Thanks, ya know, for the inhaler.”
“Of course.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” Tapping nervous fingers on the table, Tom finally said, “It wasn’t personal, Doc. All the stuff that happened to you.”
“I need to know why it’s happening,” Spence said.
Tom shrugged.
“Tom,” Spence started, “I appreciate that you don’t want to incriminate yourself, but I need answers. Without them my life and the lives of people I care about continue to be in danger. Will you help me? Give Nate something we can use to figure out who’s behind all this?”
Tom considered. “I guess I’ll be busted for the drugs anyway.”
“And attempted homicide of two police officers and Dr. Spencer,” Nate added.
“I didn’t know cops would be there. Like I said before, I was hired to make the doc overdose.” He glanced at Spence. “Sorry. I was desperate for the money.”
“And I’m desperate to get my life back. I’ve lost my job, which means I can’t treat people who need my help, like you when you had your asthma attack,” Spence said. “Please, tell us something.”
Tom studied his hands and nodded.
“You’ve asked for a lawyer,” Nate said. “Are you now waiving that right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s start at the beginning,” Nate said. “When were you first contacted about kidnapping Dr. Spencer?”
“I got an anonymous text last week. Said they knew about my business, but wouldn’t go to the police if I did a few things, like kidnap Dr. Spencer.”
“Kidnap him and do what with him?” Nate pressed.
“Leave him at Wallace Falls.”
“What were you going to do, hike up there with an unconscious man over your shoulder?”
“I was supposed to leave him behind the public bathrooms at the trailhead.”
“You have no idea who wanted him and for what purpose?” Nate pressed.
“No.”
“And tonight’s assault?”
“They promised me five grand to make him overdose.”
“On what?”
“I don’t know. They gave me the drugs.”
“You’re telling me you’ve never seen who’s behind this?” Nate said.
“No, we had a drop-off spot. Same place I got my drugs.”
“Back up. The supplier of your prescription drugs is also the person who wants Spence dead?” Nate asked.
“I don’t know for sure. I leave money in a locker at the bus station and pick up a bag with the pills. Yesterday they texted me and said to pick up drugs at the locker, not my usual stuff. Something in the blue bottle would make the doc go to sleep.”
“And then you’d torch the house?”
Tom shook his head. “No one said anything about setting a fire.”
“Where’s your phone?” Nate said.
Tom nodded at his pocket. Nate dug it out and scrolled through the text messages. “Vaughn,” he handed her the phone. “See if you can trace this one.”
“Yes, sir.” She took the phone and left the interrogation room.
“How long have you been dealing to kids?” Spence said.
“Not long. It started with adults.”
“You know what the sentence is for dealing prescription drugs in Washington State?” Nate said. “Add that to the assault and attempted murder charges and—”
“It got away from me, I guess.”
“Then get it back,” Spence said. “Do something to help yourself here.”
“If I can tell the feds you helped us solve the local crimes, that would go a long way to helping your cause,” Nate added.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he worked at the hospital,” Tom said.
“Why do you say that?” Spence asked.
“Because when my supplier sold me the drugs, I’d also get a list of names of patients who’d been released with prescriptions for painkillers. My supplier must have assumed they’d make good customers.”
The door burst open and Detective Vaughn motioned Spence and Nate out of the interrogation room. Once in the hallway, Vaughn said, “There was a break-in. Ruth Carver was assaulted, and...” She trailed off and glanced at Spence before finishing. “Maddie McBride is missing.”