He had blurted it out, a desperate guess born from a suffocating sense of dread. But Hans''s reaction-a subtle tightening of his jaw, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes-confirmed it.


    Thaddeus had no more time to waste. He turned and started running toward Pine Grove Park. A bullet kicked up snow at his feet, but he didn''t stop. Not until another bullet tore through his right shoulder.


    He staggered, a cry of agony escaping his lips, but he forced himself to stay upright. At least it was his right shoulder. His left was already so damaged, another injury there would have left it permanently useless.


    "The next one goes in your leg," Hans said, his voiceced with a cruel amusement. "Do you want to end up like your brother, Thaddeus, spending the rest of your life in a wheelchair?"


    "If you''re going to do it... just get it over with," Thaddeus gasped, clutching his bleeding shoulder. "As long as I''m still breathing, I will find her. A girl, alone on this mountain, in this storm... something could happen to her!"


    Hans stood frozen, the gun feeling heavy in his hand.


    "Hans, if you want me dead, we can settle this another time. I won''t run. But right now... just let me go to her." Thaddeus''s voice broke, the taste of blood filling his throat. "I''m begging you."


    Silence. Then, Thaddeus started moving again, his pace quickening.


    "Thaddeus," Hans called out.


    Thaddeus turned. Through the swirling snow, their eyes met. Hans raised his arm and threw something. Thaddeus caught it. It was a car key.


    "You really are insane," Hans said with a scornfulugh. He turned and walked away, disappearing into the blizzard. "Remember what you said. We''ll y again soon."


    Thaddeus clutched the key, whispering a name he hadn''t dared to speak in years. "Hubery..."


    With Hans''s car, it took Thaddeus less than fifteen minutes to reach Pine Grove Park. Captain Sean and a team of forest firefighters were just about to begin their search.


    "Mr. Abernathy?!" Captain Sean eximed, his shlight illuminating Thaddeus''s pale, blood-streaked face. “What are you doing here now?! What happened to you? Are you hurt?"


    Thaddeus had tried to clean himself up with snow, but he was still a mess. The pain in his shoulder was a constant, agonizing torment.


    "I''m fine. Is there any news of Evadne?" he asked urgently.


    "Nothing! Her assistant called me; he''s on his way now. We''re about to head up. Ms. Ashbourne is an experienced hiker, so hopefully she''s found shelter Captam Sean said, though his voice was heavy with worry. "But this storm is brutal! If she slipped and fell, she could be buried under the snow..."


    The words sent a fresh wave of terror through Thaddeus. "I''m going with you."


    "Mr. Abernathy, what''s going on with you two? Did you break up?" Captain Sean''s tone was usatory. "I know it''s none of my business, but that girl ispletely devoted to you. How could you let her down like this? You have no idea... she was here so early this afternoon, just standing at the foot of the mountain in the freezing cold, waiting for you. I''ve known her for years, and I''ve never seen her look so pathetic so heartbroken. That feeling of giving your entire heart to someone, only to have them not show up... it''s a terrible thing to witness."


    t.n


    Thaddeus''s own heart felt as if it were being crushed. The image of Evadne, waiting for him, alone in the cold, was more painful than any bullet wound. His already battered body seemed to shrink, to copse in on itself under the weight of his regret. <fna3d1> This content belongs to Find[?]ovel</fna3d1>