Simon Says Die

to shoot you.” Pierce shoved his gun into his waistband and hauled the man to his feet. “Speak, before I change my mind about shooting.”
    The man stared at Pierce’s gun for a few more seconds then finally managed to raise his gaze. “I was watching a late movie in the common room when Mrs. McKinley came downstairs. She told me a friend had called her, that she’d had car trouble and Mrs. McKinley was going to help her.”
    â€œGo on,” Pierce urged him.
    â€œI told her it wasn’t safe to go by herself at this hour. I insisted that she take you with her. She told me you were sleeping. She said she didn’t want to wake you to get your keys, and asked if she could borrow my car. I . . . I couldn’t let her go by herself, so I agreed to drive her. Once she got to this square she told me to wait for her, that she’d be back in a few minutes.” He looked around as if he expected her to appear at any moment.
    â€œShe didn’t tell you where she was going?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDid you at least see which direction she went?”
    Varley scratched his head. “I’m not really sure. It’s too dark to see anything out here.” He shivered and looked around, as if he were afraid someone was going to jump out of the shadows at him.
    Pierce gritted his teeth against the urge to shake him. Something wasn’t adding up here. Tessa had triangulated Madison’s phone to this car. “Where’s her phone?”
    â€œHer phone? I don’t under—”
    Losing patience, Pierce turned and conducted a more thorough search of the car. Just as he’d suspected, Madison’s phone was inside. She’d shoved it down between the passenger seat and the middle console.
    â€œSpecial Agent Buchanan, sir?” Mr. Varley was standing a few feet back from the open door, twisting the hem of his shirt between his hands.
    â€œWhat?” Pierce growled.
    â€œDo you think I should . . . ah . . . call the police or something? Do you think Mrs. McKinley is in some kind of trouble?”
    â€œShe’s always in some kind of trouble.”
    Varley’s brows crept up to his hairline. “Sir?”
    â€œJust give me a minute.” He tried to ignore the nearly apoplectic man standing beside him. He punched the screen on Madison’s cell phone and the light came on, showing that a message was waiting to be read, a message she’d texted to her own phone. He opened the message.
    Pierce, I couldn’t risk Damon being free to hurt anyone else. I went to get his confession. If you’re reading this, I didn’t succeed. I had to do this. I had to see it through to the end. And I couldn’t risk your life, not again. I had to protect you, which is why I couldn’t take that ring. I needed you to be angry enough to leave the room, so I could go home and meet Damon. Please forgive me. I have always loved you. I will always love you. Always.
    He cursed and threw the phone down on the seat. He glanced around the square, trying to get his bearings. Madison’s house wasn’t far from here, a short hike. She’d probably just walked there after leaving Varley sitting in the car.
    Digging his phone out of his pocket, he punched up a quick message and pressed send, before handing his phone to Varley. “Call the number on that screen as many times as it takes to wake up the person on the other end. Ask for Lieutenant Hamilton and tell him to read the text message that I just sent him. Can you do that?”
    â€œWell, uh, sure. I guess so. But why don’t you call him yourself?” He held the phone toward Pierce as if it were a snake, and he was afraid of getting bitten.
    Because Hamilton will order me not to go in without backup.
    â€œYou can drive back to the inn, but not before making that call. I know where Mrs. McKinley is, and she needs my help. Just promise me you’ll make that call. It’s vitally important. You could be saving Mrs. McKinley’s life.”
    As Pierce had hoped, Varley puffed his chest out with self-importance. “Yes, sir. I can make that call.” Just then the phone rang and Varley jumped in surprise. “Should I answer it?”
    Pierce leaned over and looked at the screen. Hamilton. He’d gotten the text after all and he’d called the phone that had sent him the text.
    â€œYes, that’s the man I wanted you to call. Make