Page 46 of The Hero She Loves

She started toward the cabin, and he followed her. His instincts were pinging hard. Something was wrong.

“There’s a small garage at the back.” Jenna pointed. “Their car must be in there.”

She continued toward the front of the cabin. A ring of rocks forming a fire pit sat nearby with two wooden chairs beside it.

“Stop!” He grabbed her and yanked her back.

She stumbled into him. “What’s wrong?”

“Something’s off.” He didn’t know what, he just knew he’d had to stop her.

She cocked her head. “It’s those spidey senses you have, isn’t it?”

“I’m not a damn superhero.” He caught the glint of something right at her feet. “Don’t move.” He crouched.

There was a long, thin wire at knee height, strung between two trees.

“Hell,” Jenna murmured.

Park followed the string to the closest tree. He saw the grenade taped to the bark.

Now she cursed. “God, if I’d hit that…”

“Olson was here.” Park rose. “This is one of his booby-traps. We were trained to make things like this.” He looked at the house. “Follow me.”

They walked carefully, checking every inch of the ground. When they reached the front deck, Park pulled a flashlight out of his backpack and looked under the steps.

“There’s another device attached to the second step.” He stepped over it. “Be careful.”

Then, he took his time checking the front door.

“It’s clear.” He tried the handle and the door opened.

There was silence inside.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins?” Jenna called. “US Marshals.”

No response.

But a very familiar smell hit Park. And from the way Jenna’s face hardened, she smelled it, too.

She pulled her weapon.

The Hoskins’ cabin smelled like death.

CHAPTER TEN

She walked in, her Glock 22 up, checking every corner.

The cabin was tidy and neat as a pin, with the clean lines of Scandinavian-style décor. The walls were white, with some large mirrors, and cozy blankets were tossed over the beige couch. She walked past the kitchen with its bright, white cabinets and butcher block counter tops. Park was one step behind her, his gun resting easily in his hand. She noted that he carried a Heckler & Koch handgun.

She jerked her head to the hallway, and he nodded.

She didn’t stop to dwell on how easily they communicated and worked together. Moving into the short hall, she steeled herself. There was a dropped blanket on the floor, like someone had been startled and dropped it. The scent of death intensified.

Jenna turned through a doorway.

The bedroom was bright and filled with light, the golden glow a dramatic contrast to the destruction within. A chair had been tipped over, and the debris from several smashed items was littered around the room.