The Reckoning by Jana DeLeon

She’d thanked him for the offer but assured him she’d feel better looking for answers rather than being cooped up in Sarah’s house. She had a nurse friend from New Orleans coming to sit with her cousin for the day, and she insisted there was no point in arguing.
    And that was that.
    Alex was already pacing the dock when he arrived. The dark circles under her eyes gave away her long night. He handed her a large cup of coffee he’d picked up at the gas station along the way and she gave him a small smile.
    “I didn’t even remember to bring any,” she said.
    “How’s Sarah?”
    “Calm now, but I’m afraid the slightest thing could send her right back to hysterical. My friend arrived an hour ago, so she’ll be fine.”
    “Good, because I need you to concentrate on the job ahead of us. With the sky still overcast from the rain, it’s going to make visibility dim.”
    “Then I guess we best get going.”
    Alex started to step into the boat, but Holt placed his hand on her arm to stop her. “There’s something else.”
    He told her about the lab results on the barrette. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand.
    “The witch woman has her. Just like Sarah said. But where?”
    “We don’t know anything for certain,” he cautioned, “except that Erika’s barrette was on the island and Mathilde Tregre had it. We don’t know for sure if Erika was ever there or Mathilde brought the barrette from somewhere else.”
    “We’re going to find out,” she said, her jaw set.

Chapter Nine
    Holt pushed the boat away from the dock and studied Alex as he guided the boat across the bayou. She looked straight ahead, her body rigid. The two times she’d glanced back at him, she wore a determined look. He gripped the steering wheel of the boat tighter, frustrated that he was unable to do more to alleviate her stress. Frustrated that he couldn’t fix this problem for her and Sarah like he had others when they were kids.
    The ride to the island was rougher than the last time they’d gone, the bayou waters choppy from the wind rushing across it. Still, it seemed to Holt that they got to the island quicker. Of course, he knew exactly where they were going this time.
    As they approached the island dock, he cut the boat’s speed and crept slowly toward the bank, scanning the brush for any signs of the shooter. He was there with a warrant, but if someone shot first and asked questions later, he and Alex could be on the losing end. The swamp was quiet, the top of the water barely glistening from the slivers of sun breaking through the clouds.
    He guided the boat to the dock and eased the nose of it onto shore. Frowning, he scanned the area around them one more time before cutting power to the engine. Holt would never admit it to anyone, but the dolls were sort of unnerving. For whatever reason, the sight of them reminded him of death, and he’d seen far too much of that overseas.
    Alex looked back at him as the engine wound down. “I didn’t see anything,” she said.
    “Me, either, but that doesn’t mean someone’s not out there. They could be waiting until we’re on land and easier to pick off, especially since we got away the last time.”
    “There’s a comforting thought.”
    “Sorry, but I need you to be alert and ready for anything. If you’re on edge, you have an advantage.”
    Alex nodded. “So do we head to the cabin?”
    “Yeah. I have a copy of the warrant. If Mathilde Tregre is there, I can present her with it. If not, I plan on leaving a copy tacked to the door. Maybe if she knows we have the right to be here, she won’t shoot at us.”
    “Assuming it’s her that took the shots in the first place.”
    “Exactly. We’re dealing with a bunch of unknowns here. Are you ready?”
    Alex glanced at the dolls surrounding the dock. “As ready as I’m getting.”
    “I’ll take the lead, but follow closely, and keep your gun ready.”
    Holt stepped past Alex and onto the bank, then