Chapter 10 - The Ridge Again
Elaine contacted Evan three days later.
She did not call me.
She called him.
"I need you to hear my side."
Maria traced the call.
Elaine was moving.
"Where are you?"
Evan asked.
"Somewhere safe."
"You drugged me."
Silence.
"I calmed you."
"You sent me into a car with cut brakes."
"I knew you would get out."
"How?"
"Mark weakened your belt."
Evan looked at me.
His face went white.
Elaine continued.
"Sarah was supposed to be alone."
"Then why did you let me go?"
"Because you insisted."
Another lie.
Evan remembered Elaine suggesting the drive.
The call became more desperate.
Elaine said Rebecca would understand.
Evan finally said.
"Mom left me a tape."
Elaine went silent.
Maria gestured for him to keep talking.
"What tape?"
"She said the cabin was mine."
"She said you could make mistakes."
Elaine's breath changed.
"Where is that tape?"
Evan understood.
Not remorse.
Fear.
"You only care where it is."
Elaine hung up.
The trace stopped near Miller's Ridge.
We drove there.
At the overlook where my car had gone over, we found Elaine's abandoned SUV.
Inside was blood.
Not much.
Enough to frighten us.
Then footsteps moved below the guardrail.
Caleb drew his weapon.
Elaine appeared from the fog.
She held a gun.
And she had Miriam beside her.
Miriam's hands were tied.
Elaine smiled at Evan.
"Come here."
Evan did not move.
She lifted the gun.
"I said come here."
I stepped forward.
Elaine aimed at me.
"No."
Evan moved between us.
"No more."
Elaine's face cracked.
"You think she's your mother now?"
Evan looked at her.
"No."
"She's Sarah."
"That's enough."
Elaine started crying.
Then Miriam screamed.
A second figure emerged behind Elaine.
Mark.
He had escaped police custody during a medical transfer.
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And he was pointing a gun at Elaine.
