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Angel stood shaking her head.“I don’t believe this.” She glanced over to the room where she’d been kept a prisoner. “So what were they planning to do with me?”

“I think at first they just wanted to hold you and scare you,” said Odelia. “To teach you a lesson somehow. I don’t think they had a clear plan in mind. But then they soon realized they were in big trouble. You can’t just go around kidnapping people and then say it was just a joke. So when they saw the attention the kidnapping was getting, and how the police got involved, I think they seriously considered… getting rid of you permanently.”

“Oh, no!” said Marigold, clasping a hand to her face.

“I’m afraid so,” said Chase. “Wesley Trygar’s brothers both have form, like you said, and one of them just confessed that they planned to shoot you and bury you out there in the woods. We found shovels in the trunk of his car and a tarpaulin they were planning to put on the floor before they shot you.”

“This is a nightmare,” said Angel. “I can’t believe Carmel would do such a thing—or the others. I’ve known these girls practically all my life!”

“So how did it happen?” asked Marigold. “How did they… take her?”

“They put something in her drink at the club,” Odelia explained. “And the plan was for her to pass out so they could bring her here. But she’d had so much to drink she threw up before the drug could take effect. It did give her a terrible headache, so Carmel dropped her off near the woods, and sent her on her way home, but not before instructing Wesley and his brothers to follow Angel home and grab her when they were safe from prying eyes and possible witnesses. They dunked her in the pond, to make sure police dogs wouldn’t be able to pick up the trail, and brought her out here.”

“She must have lost her phone when that happened,” Chase explained.

“The cabin is actually owned by Carmel’s parents. But they hardly ever use it these days, and had actually planned to raze it to the ground and build a new, bigger structure.”

“I’ve been here before,” said Angel now. “Carmel used to bring us out here to party.”

“Well, and the rest you know,” Odelia finished the story. “The boys guarded you while Carmel and the girls decided what to do with you.”

“Frankly I think the whole thing started as a prank,” Chase said. “But then it got way out of control—especially when they involved Wesley’s brothers, who didn’t mind spilling a little blood to make this problem go away. As far as your friends are concerned, I think they soon realized they were in way over their heads, and are now deeply sorry.”

“They should be sorry,” said Marigold vehemently. “And I hope they rot in jail for what they did to my baby.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” said Angel as she pressed Odelia’s hand warmly, then hugged her and burst into tears.

“Why is she crying, Max?” asked Dooley. “Isn’t she glad she’s safe?”

“It’s the tension,” said Harriet. “It’s all getting through to her and she’s realizing now what those so-called friends of her had in store for her.”

Just then, Uncle Alec walked in.“You better clear the cabin,” he said. “Forensics arrived and they want to go over the place to collect further evidence.” He caught Marigold’s eye and slightly winced, then offered her a weak smile. “Hey, Marigold.”

“Alec,” said Marigold with a distinct lack of warmth.

“Okay, so what is it with you two?” asked Odelia. “Come on, out with it. What happened that you don’t get along?”

“Uncle Alec said something he shouldn’t have said,” Dooley now announced. “He said your bed or hers and she didn’t like it.”

Odelia frowned at my friend. His explanations often are a little opaque I have to admit, and it didn’t make her any wiser. And when neither Alec or Marigold spoke up, Odelia insisted, “Well? I’m waiting.”

Uncle Alec finally cleared his throat.“Well, the thing is that…”

“Alec,” said Marigold warningly.

“The thing is that Marigold and I used to date.”

“Oh, you call that dating? We went out on one date!” She turned to Odelia. “And before it was over, he’d already dumped me!”

“I didn’t dump you! I said, very politely, I might add, that I didn’t think we were particularly suited for each other.”

“You dumped me! You even let me pick up the tab!”

“I didn’t let you pick up… did I? I can’t remember.”

“You did! We were chatting nicely, and suddenly, in the middle of the meal, you just up and left!”

“Look, I can explain. And I would have explained a long time ago, but you wouldn’t listen.”

“Well, I’m listening now,” said Marigold. “This better be good.”

“I think I can tell you what happened,” said Father Reilly.

Marigold turned to him with a frown.“You? What do you mean?”

“The thing is, I specifically asked Alec not to go on that date with you.”

“What do you mean?”