“An hour?” He choked on air.
“Less than, I said.”
When they returned to the front of the house, a silver Beamer was pulling next to Zoey’s car. A woman about their age stepped out, her long dark hair blowing in the breeze.
Zoey introduced them to Brenda, who then let them into the house. It was even more spacious than it looked from the outside, with tall ceilings and a wide-open floor plan.
While Alex was impressed, Ariana hadn’t uncrossed her arms since they stepped inside.
After a full tour, Brenda showed them two more homes, both as impressive as the first, but with different features to consider.
No matter how great they were, they were still in Idaho, far from their friends and family.
Ariana’s arms were still crossed, and her lips were tightly pressed together.
“Want to see another?” Zoey turned to Ari, her eyes widening. “One of them even has a pool.”
“Does it magically let me see Damon whenever I want?” Ari’s brows drew together. “Or Emily? Or any of my other friends?”
“You’re thinking too small, sweetie.” Zoey patted her shoulder. “Damon graduates soon. Then he can move wherever he wants—even here. The house with a pool includes a building for guests. He could stay there.”
Alex started to protest, but Ariana cut him off.
“Damon already has a house, why would he want to move?”
“To be near you. And if he sold that house, he could get something even bigger than what we’ve been looking at for ourselves. He wouldn’t have to worry about our guest room.”
“I thought you said it was a building.”
“Same thing.”
Ariana glared at her mom. “This is ridiculous! He doesn’t want to move to Idaho any more than I do.”
“He will if you’re here. Let’s look at the next house. Give it a try.”
Ariana didn’t budge. “I’m hungry.”
“We can go to that Japanese restaurant I told Dad about.” Zoey turned to Brenda. “Do you want to join us?”
Brenda glanced back and forth between mother and daughter. “Actually, I have some calls to make. Why don’t you text me when you’re ready to look at more homes?”
“Will do.”
They all said goodbye to Brenda.
Alex took a deep breath, feeling conflicted.
Could they find a compromise that would make everyone happy?
Chapter 18
Ariana double-checked that her parents were distracted before slipping away. Mom was busy telling Dad about the house’s game room in the basement, so Ari went upstairs to the loft. She sat on a windowsill that would make a good reading nook and looked outside at the sprawling lawn and winding creek off to the side.
She checked that her phone had coverage—the last house hadn’t—and called Damon.
“Hey, beautiful,” he answered. “Are you having fun?”
“Did you read any of my texts?” She groaned.
“Yeah. I thought maybe your trip was improving.”
“This isn’t a trip. It’s a joke.”
“You don’t like any of the houses?”
“If they were in your neighborhood, they’d be great. But they’re in Idaho. Would you believe my mom tried to convince me that you could move out here? She’s lost her mind.”
“I’d go anywhere for you.”
“Don’t tell her that!”
He chuckled. “Anything for you.”
“You do realize that if we move out here, I wouldn’t see you for the rest of the school year. And it’s only November!”
“Why does it matter? I thought you weren’t moving even if they do.”
“I’m not. I was just telling you how ridiculous she is.”
“Sorry you aren’t having any fun, babe. Does your mom sound like she’s hearing you guys out? That she might want to stay here after all?”
Ari sighed. “I think all this trip is doing is convincing my dad to move. It’s so annoying. We came to talk her out of it, but he’s looking at all the houses like a kid in a candy store. Mom’s going to get her way again. That means I have to figure out where I’m going to stay. I doubt my parents would let me live at home by myself, even with Grandma and Grandpa next door.”
“Even if you did move away, I’d talk to you every day. And I’d come visit every chance I got.”
She buried her face in her palms. “Not you, too.”
“I’m just saying, it would take more than a state border to stop me from seeing you.”
“It doesn't matter because I’m not going anywhere.”
“When do you get home tonight?” he asked.
“I think eight or nine. We’re catching our plane after having dinner with Mom. That is, unless Dad decides to move here immediately and have our stuff shipped over. At the rate things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Would it really be that bad?”
Irritation ran through her. “Whose side are you on? It sounds like you’re trying to get rid of me.”
“Of course I’m not. The last thing I want is to be apart from you, but I also don’t want to see your family split up. We can make it work, wherever you live.”
“You want to hear something?” She didn’t wait for him to respond. “For all the driving around we’ve done, I haven’t seen a single high school. That means either the nearest one is far away or it’s so tiny, I bet the kids are from the same family tree.”
Damon burst out laughing. “Or maybe you just didn’t pass the building. That’s probably all it is. I’m sure it’s just down some road you didn’t see or in the middle of a neighborhood that doesn’t have any houses for sale. I’m sure the kids aren’t that bad.”
“You want to bet they have three eyes or an extra thumb?”
He laughed again.
“Nothing about this is funny!”
“You’re making it funny. And I’m just trying to help you see the kids aren’t as bad as you’re imagining.”
Ariana glanced around to make sure Mom wasn’t nearby before changing the subject. “Have you seen that trench coat guy?”
“Not since the movie theater. And you didn’t see him since lunch yesterday?”
“No. But I’m sure he’s hiding somewhere, looking for Ava or me.”
“What is his problem? What does he want?”
“Who knows? Could be anything. Maybe someone trying to rattle my dad.”
Conversation sounded in the hallway.
“Someone’s coming,” Ari said. “I gotta go. Love you.”
“Love you more.”
She wanted to respond but ended the call and leaped from the window seat. Couldn’t give Mom the idea that she liked anything about the house. Not even the little nook.
Mom stepped inside. “There you are. Isn’t this room great? It would be perfect for studying or doing your science projects.”
“I haven’t done one of those in a long time.”
“You haven’t?” Mom raised an eyebrow.
“Nope. Guess you haven’t been paying that much attention.” She hurried past her and out of the room before she had to continue the conversation. Luckily, the house was huge, so it wasn’t hard to find a place to hide until they needed to leave for the restaurant.
During dinner, Ari focused on the twins while Dad spoke with Mom about houses, property, and locations. She tried to tune them out. The only thing she wanted was to get back home and stay there. This would be her last trip to Idaho. She’d humored her mom by taking the day off school—granted, it had only been a half-day, but she could’ve spent the afternoon with Damon instead of wandering through houses she would never move into—and now she couldn’t wait to get on with her life.
She’d already made it clear where she would be living. They couldn’t make her move out of state.
“Ari?” Mom said.
She pulled her attention from Zander, who was pointing to a scar on his knee, to face her mom. “What?”
“I was asking if you feel safe at home.”
“Of course I do.”
“You don’t feel nervous at all?” Mom tilted her head.
“No. Why would I?”
“Because so many kids and teens go missing around town.”
“Adults, too.” Ari took a big bite of unagi so she wouldn’t have to say more.
Mom’s expression squished, making her displeasure apparent. “And that doesn’t bother you?”
Ariana shook her head. “Nope.”
“You wouldn’t rather live out here, where you wouldn’t have to worry about crime at all? Nothing bad ever happens out this way.”
“Ever?” Ariana held back an eye roll.
“You know what I mean. Don’t you worry at home?”
“Not at all.” She took an even bigger bite this time, making it clear she didn’t want to keep talking about it.
“You feel completely safe? Nothing at home makes you worried?”
Ari studied her mom. It was like she was fishing for information or somehow knew about the stalker. But that was impossible. Dad wouldn’t have told her, or Mom would’ve freaked out and made them all move as soon as she heard.
“Do you feel safe?” Mom repeated.
She swallowed her food. “Yes! What’s with the third degree? I already answered you. Don’t Dad and I need to get to the airport soon?”
Mom frowned then exchanged an unreadable expression with Dad. It was impossible to tell if he was on her side or trying to get her on theirs.
Hopefully the latter, or Ari was really in trouble. Either way, she would hold her ground and refuse to move to the boonies, away from her friends, boyfriend, and life.
If they decided to move out here, it would be without her. Just like she’d been saying all along. This day trip had done nothing to change her mind. Nor would anything else they had to say.
Chapter 19
Nick reached for his time card to clock out for the evening.
“Did you hear the news?” Sergeant Wu asked from behind.
Nick dropped his hand to his side and turned around. “What news?”
“A man in a trench coat and glasses was just arrested not far outside of Seattle.”
“Really? In the process of abducting a kid?”
Wu nodded. “Yes. A boy this time.”
“A second boy? How many children are we up to?”
“Seven that we know of, but the last time one was taken, six were abducted at the same time.”
Nick drew in a deep breath. “Are there others this time?”
“It’s too soon to know. Deputy Mackey just heard from a friend in another precinct. We’re hearing it first.”
“Did the guy in the trench coat succeed in abducting the boy, or was he caught attempting to?”
“He was in the process. The nanny acted quickly—she not only got between him and perp but managed to notify the police in time for them to apprehend him.”
Nick took in a deep breath. “How far from Seattle? Close to here?”
Wu shook his head. “Northeast. A small town I hadn’t heard of. I can find out.”
“That’s fine. I’ll look into it. Where’s Crawford?”
“Haven’t seen him.”
That gave Nick pause. “You haven’t?”
“No. Someone thought he went for a late lunch.”
At the exact time an abductor was caught in the act.
“Interesting. Thanks.” As Nick hurried back to his office, he looked around for the chief or the agents but didn’t see any of them. It was the shift change, so there were more people than usual and the air was buzzing with excitement.
Crawford would be highly disappointed about missing all the updates. Unless he was the mole, as some suspected. Then he could be trying to avoid the feds on purpose. But nobody could accuse him without proof of a crime, or at the very least, reasonable cause for suspicion. They had neither. And even asking a simple question along those lines could be enough to get someone fired.
It wasn’t worth it.
Nick wandered around, asking others questions about the new case, but it didn’t sound like anyone knew more than Wu had told him.
While heading toward the time cards, he texted Genevieve to let her know he was running a little late.
She responded right away.
Genevieve: Did u hear abt the new string of kidnappings?
His heart sank, but the news didn’t surprise him.
Nick: Five of them?
Genevieve: How’d u know?
Nick: One suspect was caught in the act. Makes 6 total.
Genevieve: 2nd wave?
Nick: Looks like it.
Genevieve: Dont wry abt staying late. I’ll order in. Come home when u can.
Nick: Thx. I’ll let u know when I’m on my way. Do u need me 2 get anything? Diapers?
Genevieve: No. Megan’s fine. Luv u.
Nick: U2.
He put his phone away and went back to his office. There were surely new emails about the situation, as he was doing his best to stay in the loop with other precincts around the state.
After an hour on emails and other tasks, his vision was growing bleary. He rubbed his eyes and decided to head home. Tomorrow was sure to be a busy day, and he needed his rest.
Just as he rose from his seat, his phone rang. It was Ava.
He answered quickly. “Are you okay?”
“Dad, I saw that guy again.”
Worry gripped him. “From the restaurant?”
“Yes, that guy!”
“Are you sure it wasn’t someone else?”
“Same guy. He really needs to do something about those brows.”
“Where?”
“The place where I get my nails done.”
“Not his eyebrows.” Nick pressed his palms against the desk. “Where did you see him?”
“Oh. He was at the library.”
“Was?” Nick typed notes onto his computer. “He’s gone now?”
“Yeah. I pointed him out to the security guard, and the stalker ran out like his shorts were on fire.”
“When did this happen?”
“Just a few minutes ago. The guard ran after him, but the creep went into the woods behind the building and got away.”
Nick sighed. “You did the right thing. Thanks for letting me know. Are you heading home soon?”
“Yeah. Shayla’s going to drop me off.”
“I’ll see you there. Genevieve’s ordering dinner.”
“Great! Bye, Dad.” She ended the call.
Nick put away his phone then checked to see if the incident at the library had been reported. It had, and two of their officers were on their way over for a statement.
His temples throbbed. The stress was enough for him to entertain the idea of moving out of state along with Alex’s family—if they did end up leaving.
It infuriated him knowing someone was following his daughter around. The man wasn’t even trying to be discreet.
That could make him just as dangerous as someone who was trying to stay hidden. He didn’t care about being seen. It was like he wanted to be noticed.
But why?
Chapter 20
Five Fingers paced the tiny living room, purposefully ignoring his computer. Didn’t want to look at or think about either one.
The latest round of kidnappings had been a bust. Sure, they’d gotten five of the kids. Eleven total.
But Pit Bull was down. He’d been careless. Now he was in police custody.
Idiot.
Now they all had to be on their guard even more than usual. Pit Bull had turned into a loose cannon as of late. That was even more concerning now, with him behind bars. He might feel the need to turn people in to protect himself in hopes of getting immunity.
That was one reason they all used aliases. It was also why they kept dirt on each other. If Pit Bull talked, an anonymous source would come forward with evidence that would land him in prison for life o
r maybe even get him executed—even if it wasn’t a government-sanctioned death penalty. Could be a prison fight, a discreet shank, or an apparent suicide. Didn’t matter. The result would be the same.
Five Fingers, unlike the others, had everyone’s true identities. And he wasn’t afraid to use them if necessary.
It could come down to that.
Everyone was sure to be worried and posting like maniacs on the forum, but he wasn’t about to look. He couldn’t afford to focus on that. What he needed was to get control of the situation, and fast. Before his men either went rogue or did something stupid.
He had to come up with a plan to get control of the situation before he spoke with anyone in the chatroom. But before he did that, it was imperative he get in contact with his sources and check in with the blogger. The guy was sure to be all over the five new kidnappings. It could be driving him crazy to know why only five, unless he already knew about Pit Bull being caught. But that was in a different town from him, so he might not have heard.
Not that it mattered. Mercer had been a problem for years. Not just because of his blog. The attempts against his family had been a bust. His wife hadn’t taken the bait, but they’d still managed to get a good picture of her with Nighthawk to upset her husband for a while.
What really confused Five Fingers was that Mercer allowed his daughter to date Nighthawk’s son. To his knowledge, they were still together. Son of the enemy. Granted, Nighthawk was a dead enemy. But the rest of the mastermind was alive and kicking.
Five Fingers sure couldn’t have planned Mercer’s daughter and Nighthawk’s son falling for each other. He was no matchmaker. But he could make that situation work to his advantage. Make it fit into his plan against the blogger.
Problem was, Mercer’s daughter was wising up as of late.
His head started to pound. Everything was intensifying, and it would only get worse once he checked the chat. Everyone would be worried about Pit Bull’s arrest. Not that anyone was concerned about Pit Bull himself. He’d been stupid, gotten caught. The group was instead worried about the same things Five Fingers was trying to make sense of—would the loose cannon trade what he knew for immunity? Or would he stay smart and keep quiet? Hopefully, he knew better. They were all too aware of Nighthawk’s and Muscles’s recent fates. Dead as doornails.
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