Page 65 of Chilled

“I know.” Brenna shifted the SUV into reverse. “But that’s in the past.” She should have let go of her resentment a long time ago.

Nick’s cell phone rang on his hip. He unclipped it and answered the call. “Tarver.”

Brenna’s hand hovered over the gearshift. Had they found Gomez? She strained her ears to make sense of the voice she could barely hear, finally giving up.

“Do you need us to help?” Nick listened to more talking Brenna couldn’t understand, and then nodded. “We’ll see you in a few. If anything comes up, let me know.”

Nick flipped his phone shut. “That was Paul. He and Melissa are positioned outside the Riverton Bistro where Robin Rutledge works.”

Brenna nodded. “You know, it’s crazy, and I don’t wish anything bad to happen to Robin, but I’m hoping our killer tries something tonight.”

Nick stared straight ahead into the dark night. “Careful what you wish for.”

“Where’s our girl?It’s after two,” Nick said, pushing the light button on his watch for the tenth time in the past fifteen minutes. Patience had never been one of his strengths, and waiting for Robin Rutledge to get off work wasn’t the easiest task, considering he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in several days.

“She should be out any minute.” Brenna sat as far away from him as she could get in the tight confines of the sedan. Since they’d assumed the watch from Paul and Melissa two hours earlier, Brenna had avoided conversation.

The outside lights blinked out, and still Robin didn’t exit the front or side doors.

“Do you think she went out the back?” Nick tapped his fingers against the steering wheel.

“Robin promised Paul earlier this evening that she’d come out the front door so they could watch everyone entering and leaving. And Adam, the plain-clothes policeman, is inside, so nothing should happen.”

“She should be out by now.” Nick clicked the overhead light out and opened the door. “I’m going to check. Stay here and don’t get out of the car.”

“Bull.” She opened her door. “I’m coming with you.”

Nick grinned in the darkness, glad she chose to stick with him. He’d rather keep an eye on her in case the killer was stalking them, using Robin as his decoy.

They circled the building in time to see a man wearing a white cook’s apron locking the back door with no sign of Robin.

All systems on instant alert, Nick hurried forward. “Sir!”

The man’s hand jerked, he dropped the keys and lifted his hands high like he was at gunpoint. “Wh-what do you want?”

Nick held his badge up. “FBI Agent Nick Tarver and Special Agent Jensen. Who are you?”

“Ray Svendsen.” His gaze darted from Nick to Brenna and back. “What do you want?”

Brenna stepped forward. “Sir, we’re looking for Robin Rutledge.”

The man’s eyes narrowed as he concentrated on Nick’s credentials in the light shining down over the back porch. When he was satisfied, his frown cleared. “You just missed her. She left with her boyfriend not more than two minutes ago.”

“What do you mean she left with her boyfriend?” Brenna asked.

“That guy that hangs around all the time. I don’t remember his name. She left without saying anything, and when I came out back, I saw her get into a truck. I recognized the guy because he used to come in a lot.”

“Do you know if the man was Jason Conlin?” Nick asked.

Svendsen nodded. “I’m pretty sure that’s the name Robin mentioned. Can’t keep up with the young people and their on-again-off-again boyfriends.” He turned to fit the key in the lock again. “All I know is I’m tired and want to get to bed.”

“Can you describe the vehicle?”

“Sure, it’s a late-model white Chevy truck with a lot of rust.”

Nick remembered seeing the truck in Jason’s apartment parking lot.

Brenna touched a hand to Nick’s arm. “What about Adam?”

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