Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 137176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Unlike my house, the cabin didn’t really have any rooms. To my left was an open living space with more mismatched and very outdated furniture. I didn’t spend a lot of time worrying about it because my only concern was seeing if the space was empty or not.
It was.
There was a door in front of me that led outside but when I tried to open it, it wouldn’t budge. It had a deadbolt lock on it that required a key to unlock it. I swallowed down my fear that I was locked in the cabin and looked to my right. I was greeted with a long but narrow dining room. The table filled most of the space. It was made from the same kind of wood as the stairs. At the end of the room was a wide opening leading to what looked like a kitchen. Based on the layout that I’d already seen, it was a good bet that it was the last room in the place.
I tried to listen for any sound that would confirm I wasn’t alone, but there was nothing. I wasn’t sure if I was happy or sad about that. Being ditched at the cabin with nowhere to go was one thing, but being in the cabin with the person I suspected had brought me there was another.
God, I was being ridiculous. I wasn’t in some slasher flick, and I wasn’t some dumb teenager who hid themself in the darkest room which also happened to have dozens of sharp pointy objects and no way out. I was a cop, damn it.
Correction.
I’d been a cop.
My inner voice told me to stop stalling and move my ass.
His back was to me when I stepped into the kitchen. He was sitting at a small table. It looked like he was reading. All I needed was a heavy object and I’d be out of there.
“There’s coffee,” Cass said.
I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of his voice. Of course the asshole would hear me. I took a quick look around the kitchen but didn’t see my gun or phone. I didn’t see anything except for the coffee pot and an empty mug sitting in front of it.
“The sugar’s already in the mug,” Cass continued. “Two teaspoons,” he added. He didn’t look at me. He didn’t appear wary that I was standing behind him and had access to a hot coffee pot that could double as a weapon.
He also didn’t seem concerned about the wide-open door on the far side of the room.
“What is this?” I asked as I gave Cass a wide berth and moved so I could see him from the front. He was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. His feet were bare.
They were sexy.
Who the hell thought feet were sexy, and how could someone even have sexy feet?
Easy answer.
Apparently, I thought they were sexy, and Cass’s genes had made sure every part of his body screamed sex on a stick.
A stack of files sat in the middle of the table. There was a banker’s box on the floor with more files.
“What is this?” I repeated. “Where are we?”
“You’re a cop, JJ. Figure it out.”
“God, Cass, you are such a fucking—”
“Get your coffee before you get started on… whatever,” Cass said with a little wave of his hand.
I found myself heading for the coffee pot before I even realized I shouldn’t be following any of his orders. The need for caffeine won out. I went to the coffee and filled my mug, which did indeed have what looked like two sugars—I froze as a startling realization hit me. “How do you know how I take my coffee, Cass?” I asked as I continued to stare at the mug.
“Fill the cup and come sit,” Cass said. He sounded tired. Again, my body began following the order without thinking. It took me a painfully long time to go to the table. I glanced at the open door again.
“It’s open because I’m claustrophobic,” Cass stated without looking at me. “You’re free to go if you want, but I’m not going to follow you this time, JJ.”
“Where are my things?” I asked even as I dismissed the door and slowly sat down in the chair across from Cass. “My gun, my phone?”
I believed Cass when he said he wouldn’t follow me. I’d already put enough pieces together to know I was in a wooded area in a higher elevation, which meant I was likely in the mountains far outside the city. It was late spring but that didn’t mean it was warm wherever the hell we were, and judging by the light outside, the sun was going down. That meant cooler temperatures. There probably wouldn’t be any people in the immediate vicinity either, so sure, I could leave, but I’d be wandering in the woods at night without proper clothing. Chances were that I’d be dead in a matter of days if some wild animal didn’t get me first. Whatever was happening was clearly a setup.