Miss Meurtre
Part 3
“Yesterday, I saw someone walking through the woods,” Elliot explained, shoving aside a low-hanging branch. She peered around, trying, despite the snow, to recognize the path to the cabin.
Sadie shoved her hands into her pockets, stamping her feet as she attempted to warm herself up. “Are we sure they went to the cabin?”
“There are no other buildings in this forest as far as I know.”
“But what if there is?” Sadie pressed. “Shouldn’t we ask someone? Your father, or—” She was cut off at the sound of something whizzing through the air and hitting the tree behind her with a thunk.
It was the sound of a gun. Elliot reacted first, dive-tackling Sadie and pressing her to the ground. Sadie screamed as she realized what was happening. Being the taller of the two, Elliot could shield Sadie’s body with her own. There was another thunk.
Elliot let out a curse as the shooter’s aim got closer and closer. They couldn’t return fire, and they couldn’t run. She braced herself, getting ready for the final shot. If she didn’t make it, she hoped that Sadie would have the good sense to make a run for it back to the house. Sadie wasn’t much of a runner, but maybe the adrenaline would—
“Elliot?”
Elliot lifted her face, blinking the snow off her lashes. It was Benjamin, looking down at her with an amused expression. “What are you doing out here?”
Elliot rolled off Sadie, who sat up, looking just as befuddled as Elliot.
“Well, we were just walking.” Elliot regained her composure as quickly as possible.
Benjamin tilted his head to the side. “Like that?” He gestured to the two girls on the ground. Elliot got up, pulling Sadie to her feet as well.
“No.” Elliot straightened. “We just got shot at.”
Benjamin blinked. “What? By who?”
“The killer, I’m guessing,” Sadie piped up. “Thank god you showed up at the right time!”
Elliot walked over to the tree, leaning closer. The bullets were embedded deep into the tree, and Elliot took out her phone, snapping a few pictures of it. If the killer came by later and took the bullets out, at least they’d have proof that they weren’t lying.
Benjamin coughed. “I don’t think that’s necessary, Elliot. I can vouch for you guys.”
Elliot shot a sharp-eyed glance at him. “Better safe than sorry, wouldn’t you say?”
“Yeah, yeah…” Benjamin trailed off. “Let’s get back to the house.”
As Sadie and Elliot trailed Benjamin to the house, Sadie chittering about how happy she was to not have died, Elliot stopped in her tracks, putting out an arm to stop Sadie as well.
“What…” Sadie trailed off. Because glinting silver in Benjamin’s pocket was the unmistakable handle of a gun.
