Page 154 of Valor

“What can I do for you?”

“Elliot and Nova Hunt are on their way in my truck. Have Lenson gear them and himself up, then have him ride with them. They know where they’re going.”

“Will do. Is everything all right?”

“No.” I start to end the call, but a thought pops into my mind. “Where do you get those flowers? The ones you’re always arranging all over the place?”

“Deputy Brown,” she replies. “She has a fantastic flower garden in her backyard. Brings them in fresh every day.”

And there it is. The piece I was waiting for. It’s not just that she would have picked up the floral scent at the office—it’s in her car. Her home. “Thanks, Jenny. Get with Lenson. Please. We don’t have a lot of time.” I end the call.

“She’s holding Lani at her house,” Lance says from the backseat.

“We’re about to find out.”

White knuckles grip the steering wheel as I fight the urge to follow her into Lani’s apartment building and force the answers out of her—by any means necessary.

But that will likely cost us precious time we don’t have to spare.

So I don’t.

“Call Elliot. Have them head over to Lani’s apartment and keep watch. We’ll move in as soon as we’ve cleared her house. I don’t want to spook her just yet.”

Lord, please lead me to Lani. Please let me find her again before it’s too late. God, I can’t do this without you.

* * *

“There’s not much here,”Lance says as he surveys the living room.

“Her room is clean, too,” Bradyn replies.

I stare out the back window at the flower garden thriving in her backyard. Her house might as well be a flower shop given there are fresh bouquets everywhere. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s behind this now. The question is, where is Lani? Did she bring her here? Or are we wasting time?

“Elliot says she’s still at Lani’s apartment. He’s watched her go into half a dozen of the neighboring apartments.”

“She’s playing it safe,” I say. “Honestly, she might know we’re onto her.”

Lani, where are you?

We’ve scoured this house. Inside and out. I even checked the potting shed in the back, and there’s been no sign of Lani.

“Tucker just texted,” Bradyn says. “She doesn’t own any other property in the area.”

“She didn’t own the last place Lani was held. Can you have him look for any more places that fit the profile of that first cabin? Anywhere she could stash Lani and we wouldn’t know?”

“On it.” He turns and fires off a text.

I step onto the back porch again. The backyard is a maze of stone pathways weaving through colorful blooms. Fresh mulch lays in bags near the door, alongside two empty bags.

It all seems so normal for the home of a killer. What could have pushed her to do this to Lani? What possible reason could she have for doing something like this?

“Gibson, you’re going to want to come look at this.”

I glance back at Bradyn, noting the fury on his face. “Is it?—”

“It’s not Lani. But we found her stuff. Hidden behind a false wall in the back of the deputy’s closet.”

I head back into the house and follow him down the hall, toward the main bedroom. Lance has opened a panel on the wall and is standing in front of it. Lani’s floral dresses hang inside the wall, along with the dress she wore on our date.

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