Page 20 of Complicated Past

“Not happening. I can’t have all the guys calling me McSteamy or Mr. Buns of Steel,” Walt cracked.

Tammy laughed out loud and patted his backside. “In your dreams.”

Kendra eyed Linc. “And yours is?” Why did she desperately want to know his nickname?

“It’s classified.”

Based on his grin, that wasn’t true, though that beat his usual intense expression. When he aimed his smile at her, it had an even more disarming effect than when he smiled at Jalen.

“If he gets wound up, swinging or having him go in circles helps ground him,” Linc shared. “There’s a change of clothes inthe backpack, just in case. If you tire him out at the playground, he might take a nap for you. Call me if you need anything.”

ELEVEN

“Did you want to check in with Clara for any updates?” Kendra asked him as they left the Shuler’s.

“I figured she’ll call if she learns anything she can share,” he deflected.

Based on her clearing her throat, she disapproved. Part of him wished she’d stayed back at Dev’s. Having her along complicated things. If they did find the van, he couldn’t risk her safety, and she’d want to report the findings to the police. But she was here, and having a second pair of eyes wouldn’t hurt when they had so much ground to cover.

He’d tried thinking like a drug-smuggling kidnapper and ruled out anywhere with a high-density population, where neighbors could see or overhear. If these guys were connected to some higher-level players, they could even be in an upscale neighborhood with the van parked in the garage, making it harder to find. The low odds of this mission’s success weighed on him, but he had to try.

As he drove to the first neighborhood he planned to scout, his phone rang. Clara’s name on the display gave him goosebumps.

“Did you contact her?” he asked Kendra before answering.

“Not since yesterday.”

Let this be good news.“Did you find Mrs. Feldman?” he asked.

“Good morning to you too. No, we have not. However, from reviewing video footage, we determined the van came from South McPherson Church and headed back that way after taking her. We lost them after crossing Cliffdale. We’re concentrating our search in that quadrant.”

“Good to know.” He was on the right track.

“What are you doing?” When he didn’t answer, she continued. “I can tell you’re in the car.”

“Performing a grid search.”

“You left Jalen and Kendra at your friend’s?”

“No,” Kendra piped up. “He left Jalen with a teammate’s family, and I’m helping.”

“Oh, jeez,” Clara groaned.

“I’ve got nothing else to do,” Linc said. “And no one would know the car we’re in. It’s less likely to alert the kidnapper than police cruisers.” That he could have ditched the van by now wasn’t outside the realm of possibility, but he had to keep looking.

She sighed. “I can’t stop you, but if you find anything, you need to report in and let us handle it.”

“Acknowledged.”

“Stop giving me that ‘acknowledged’ bullshit. I want you to agree.” For someone half Chief Lundgren size, her authoritative tone sounded a lot like his superior.

“Yes, ma’am. If we find the van, we will contact authorities.” Kendra wouldn’t give him a choice. “Any reports on more stolen license plates?”

“No, though, if it were me, I’d get a plate that wouldn’t be missed right away. Like from a car in a long-term parking lot.”

“Exactly.” For being a small-town detective, she impressed him. But he couldn’t leave it all to them. Not when this was Bri. He couldn’t let her down—again.

For the next three hours, he drove down every street in several residential neighborhoods, ruled out all three white work vans they’d seen, and had hardly put a dent in the search area. Man, he wished the team were here to help. Kendra kept a list of streets, which helped when things began to run together. “Let’s take a break and get some lunch,” he suggested.

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