He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

stopped making suggestions and quietly sat in the passenger seat watching the scenery roll by, as if he’d given up hope and was waiting for Logan to come to the same conclusion.
    “She’s still alive,” Logan said, for perhaps the dozenth time in the past half hour, as if by saying it he could somehow make it true.
    Pierce looked over at him but didn’t say anything. He turned back toward the window.
    A few miles down the road from Logan’s house, he passed Mill Cove Road, the same road the killer had driven with Amanda four years ago when he took her to the cabin at Black Lake.
    “Pierce, they’ve already searched Mill Cove Road right?”
    “I’m sure they have. It was at the top of the list when we organized the search parties. Give me a sec. I’ll make sure.” Pierce pulled out his cell phone and pushed the speed dial. “Nelson, it’s Pierce. No, we haven’t found anything. Look, Logan wanted to make sure you’d already checked Black Lake.” A minute later his eyes widened. “Why the hell not?”
    Logan cursed viciously and braked hard, wheeling the Mustang around in the middle of the road. He gunned the engine and headed back toward Mill Cove Road.
    “H old out your hands so I can take off the chain. Hurry. We have to go.” The man who’d hurt Karen and tasered Amanda glanced behind him at the cabin door. He’d told Amanda his name was Tom, that he’d chained her up to keep her safe. He was trying to help her. Having seen how he’d “helped” Karen, she knew better.
    Amanda backed against the wall, holding the chain by her side, ready to wrap it around his neck if she got the chance. Her hands stung from the sweat running into her cuts and her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest, but she had to make a stand. The chain was her only weapon. She wasn’t giving it up. “If you want to help me, toss me the key and leave. I won’t tell anyone about you.”
    He clutched the handcuff key in his hand, cocking his head to the side. “You’re trying to trick me.”
    Amanda weaved in front of him, waiting for a chance to kick his feet out from under him.
    His eyes narrowed and he frowned, crinkling the scar on his face, pulling his lip into a sneer. The effect was startling, disturbing, and even though Amanda’s scar wasn’t nearly as dramatic as his, she finally understood how difficult it might be for someone to see her for the first time without displaying an outward reaction. If she survived, she’d never again get irritated at someone if they flinched when they saw her scar.
    He suddenly charged forward, shoving her against the wall, knocking her down. She fell hard, cracking her head against the floor again. Pain radiated through her skull, pounding through her temples. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth from her split lip. Her vision blurred—whether from the pain or a concussion, she wasn’t sure. She shook her head, desperate to bring “Tom” back into focus, but she only succeeded in making her head pound harder.
    “It’s your fault you got hurt. Stop fighting me. I’m trying to help you.” A quick tug of her wrists, a clicking sound, and the chain pooled onto the floor in a series of loud thuds.
    He’d unlocked the cuffs. She was free. He reached out for her and she twisted out of his reach, tripping over the length of chain on the floor. She scrambled to her feet, diving out of the way just as he grabbed for her.
    “P ull over here,” Pierce said in a low voice. “I see another cabin through those trees.” He pointed toward the small square building and Logan nodded.
    “I see it.”
    They left the Mustang parked on the side of the road. Circling around to the back of the cabin, they drew their guns and crept through the edge of the trees, splitting up to go around on either side. They met up at the front of the cabin, facing each other from opposite sides of the door. Logan quietly twisted the doorknob. Locked.
    He held up his hand, signaling Pierce. Then he brought his hand down in a short chopping motion.
    “Police!” they both yelled.
    Logan slammed against the door, busting it open, banging it against the far wall. He ran inside with Pierce close on his heels, both of them crouching down, guns drawn.
    The cabin was empty.
    Amanda wasn’t here. No one had been in this cabin since Logan and his men had checked it out over a week ago.
    “We’ll check the other cabins. Let’s split up so we can cover the cabins more quickly. If