I could hear his heart, even louder than the trigger clicks. When I reached him, he dropped the gun and covered his face. I didn’t strike him. I leaned down instead. She begged, I said quietly. She begged you by name. His sobs turned to choking gasps. He dropped to the ground fully now, face pressed into the snow. I stood over him for a long moment, watching his breath fog the frost.
Then I left him there, living in his nightmare. Death would have been mercy. By dawn, the fire had burned out behind me, leaving only blackened timber. Of the seven sons, two were dead for broken and one missing. I thought it was over until the crunch of boots came from the ridge road. Police, at least a dozen of them.
Their flashlights cut through the smoke. I backed into the trees unseen. I saw the lead agent step forward, a woman in plain clothes. She pulled off her cap. It was Detective Miller. She looked different now, fear behind her professional calm. She was staring at the ruin of the cabin like she’d stepped into a war zone.
