You Can't Hide

coincidence.”
She flicked it to the ground, got into the vehicle, and sped off, putting as much distance as she could between herself and that stupid piece of shiny paper.
Pressing her fingers into her forehead, she groaned. Stop it, Elle. Remember the crazy looks when you wouldn’t stop obsessing about the prank call? With the top down on her jeep, the cigar band could have gotten on the floor in any number of ways—the wind, somebody tossing it aside, or it could have been on the bottom of a grocery bag she put there. Argh. She sighed. There was no need to explain it away. Merrick was on death row. Period. End of story.
She drove in silence. When she arrived, she sat in the jeep and stared at the cabin. Go inside. The cabin was dark, not a light on anywhere. Which is the way it always is when no one’s at home, she thought. This is ridiculous.
Turning the ignition off, she forced herself out of the jeep. Mainers rarely locked their doors, but ever since the prank call, Grammie Gwen always did. That gave her some comfort. She fumbled with her keys, but when she touched the keys to the door, it creaked open on its own.
She jumped back, but then stifled her fear. The door opened like that sometimes from its loose hinges, but not when it was locked. Fear rose up her spine. Stop it. She chided herself. I’m safe here. She’d gone into town before her grandparents, and they probably had forgotten to lock the door. Anyhow, if someone had broken into the cabin, the lock would show signs of tampering.
She let out a puff of air. Of all the days to not have her dog with her. Sam had taken Ginger with him to UMO that morning. Her hands shook, as she held onto the door. She peered around it.
Everything looked okay. Of course it is, Elle. Angry with herself, she pushed the door open, went inside, and then locked it behind her.
The cabin was quiet—too quiet. The hairs on the back of her neck pricked, and even though she fought the urge, she grabbed a butcher knife from the kitchen sink, and held it in front of her, as she moved through the room. No one could blame her, even though she’d heard rumors about how crazy they thought she was, but being abducted and held against your will by a lunatic would do that to anyone. She stealthily crept through each room, checking in closets, and under beds.
The cabin was bigger than most on the lake, with two stories, ten bedrooms, and three bathrooms. It took her several minutes, but with each conquered room, she felt stronger, and yes, sillier, too. She was about to bounce back down the steps and return the knife to the sink, when a loud noise downstairs, startled her. Her heart leapt to her throat, and she held the knife tight, inching away from the bedroom door.
Footsteps ascended the stairs and then a scurry of paws hit the wooden steps. Sam’s voice rang out, “Elle, are you up there?” Her hand clutched her throat—finally able to breath, short spasms engulfed her body. Glancing down at the knife, she panicked. She quickly slid it behind the dresser and opened the door.
“Hi, there,” she said, smoothing her hands against her pants.
He gave her a strange look. “What are you hiding?” He tried to look past her.
She swallowed and kept her expression unchanged. “Um, what are you talking about?”
A slow grin swept across his face. “Oh, wedding secrecy stuff.” He leaned down and kissed her and then held his hands up. “And, I’m so okay with not knowing.”
“Good, because I mean to surprise you.” Her mind raced, and she tried to calm it. Wrapping her arms around him, her trembling lessened, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She guided him out of the room.
“You’re shaking, Elle.” He pulled back. “What’s wrong?”
Oh, dang it. She sighed. Maybe she should just tell him about her weird day—the cigar band and the unlocked door. Heck no. “Nothing, I’m just hungry that’s all.”
“Good, because I brought home supper,” he said, holding up a deli bag. “I got your favorite.” He opened the bag and showed her the crab roll. Two other sandwiches were in the bag—one a ham melt. He must be extra hungry.
“Um, mind if I have the ham melt?”
“Sure.” He cocked his head and stared at her, and then putting his arm around her waist, he pulled her near.
She nestled her nose in the crick of his neck. “Thanks.” Strange how simple things calmed her fears.
He pulled her away and looked into her eyes. “I have another surprise for you.”
She pushed a loose strand of hair from her eyes. “Oh, really?”
“Yes,” he said. He took her by the hand and led her downstairs. At the bottom of the steps, he covered her eyes.
He gently nudged her forward. “What’s up, Sam?” He dropped his hands.
In the far corner of the room, Elle’s best childhood friend, Karen Willis, stood. Thought they’d spoken over the phone, she hadn’t seen her since the day before her horrid abduction. When Sam had rescued Elle and reunited her with her family, Karen had been out of the country, school abroad. Karen and Todd had been the only ones missing from the happy reunion.
“Karen!” She bolted toward her. Wiping tears from her eyes, she looked around. “Where’s Todd?”
Karen frowned. “LA.” She pulled out a kitchen chair and sat. Elle sat down across from her.
Elle studied her friend’s face. Having grown up together, she’d known Todd for almost as long as she’d known Karen. “Why is Todd in LA?” Karen’s face hardened. Elle was about to ask more, but Sam bent down and kissed her forehead. “So, um, you’ve met my fiancé?” She glanced up at Sam.
Karen nodded. “Yes. Actually, he helped me plan this surprise.”
Elle smiled. “I figured as much.” Sam pointed toward the door and motioned he’d be right