Page 72 of Baited

The next one could be her life. Or Hanna’s.

She entered her bedroom and her senses buzzed to life. Her instinct told her to move slowly and quietly, but she couldn’t. The kidnapper had no idea that she was onto him. If she tiptoed around, it would only alert him. She forced a low hum through her lips as she floated around the room, collecting everything she needed for work.

In the spare room, she stripped out of her pajamas and pulled on her work uniform. Ethan’s hip rested on the bed, his gaze on his phone.

“I told Nate the plan. I’ll text you as soon as we chat and give you the rundown.”

She tugged the plain black T-shirt over her head and fit her arms though. Ethan’s thick fingers curled around her hipbones as she shimmied the shirt over her breasts.

“Be careful. And text me if anything seems off at work. Even if it’s just a hunch or a strange look from someone. Okay?”

She rested her hands on his shoulders. Tension radiated in the muscles beneath her palms, her touch did nothing to ease it. His blue eyes, crinkled with concern, searched her face.

“I will. I promise. Now let’s get going.”

He nodded and got to his feet. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She closed her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his breastbone. His fingers drew lazy circles on her shoulder blades.

“It’s almost over, babe.”

Tears burned the back of her eyelids but she forced them away. They might be getting closer to finding him, but wouldthey find Hanna? Pain curled into a tight ball in her chest and she sighed and pushed away from the comfort of his arms. If she didn’t, she’d never leave.

She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Let’s go.” She led him into the hallway and turned for the front door.

Ethan caught her arm and squeezed her hand. “I’m going next door to change, I’ll drive by the diner shortly,” he said.

She nodded and Ethan snuck through the house and out the back without a word. She grabbed her purse and slipped on her shoes. She let herself out the front door, and locked it behind her. The habitual motion made her scoff. A lot of good locked doors did.

Birds chirped in a nearby tree and the sun had already heated the air to a barely breathable temperature. Her gaze racked over her rental car as she approached, searching for any sign of tampering. She wasn’t Ethan, she wouldn’t be able to spot a threat with her naked eye, but her instinct told her to at least attempt it.

She unlocked the door with the key fob and slid into the driver’s seat. She kept the door open wide until she started the ignition and had the window down and A/C blasting. She pulled away from the curb and cruised slowly through the streets until she reached Main Street.

“Riley, I thought you weren’t coming in until Tuesday.” Jenny frowned at her in the back room when she got to the diner.

She shrugged and lifted an apron. “I was bored.”

Jenny’s lips firmed and she nodded. The urge to tell her the truth and to take away the grim smile from her friend’s face ebbed through her. But she couldn’t. Not yet.

“It’s dead now. You just missed Brian…and he was full of questions about you.”

Riley froze, the apron hung midair in her hands. “What did he say?”

“He was awfully curious about what happened between you and Ethan last night. He asked for your number but of course, I didn’t give it to him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes looking for you later.”

A pool of unease opened in her belly. She swallowed. Ethan had wanted to talk more about Brian. Could he have taken Hanna? He was a nice guy, and a firefighter, and because of that probably the last person anyone would suspect.

She should call Ethan…but there was no doubt he’d jump at the opportunity to question Brian—or anyone for that matter. And if he did, and Brian was the one who had Hanna, their plan would go to hell in a hand basket.

She had to talk to Brian herself. If she could just look him in the eye… maybe ask him a couple of questions, she might be able to gauge if he was the one. If she even sensed for one second that it was him, she’d call Ethan and risk the whole thing.

“Shoot, I forgot something at home.” She hung the apron back up. “I’ll be back in a bit, sorry.” She scooped up her purse and sailed past Jenny’s wide-eyed face.

Ten minutes later, she pulled her car to the curb in front of a small duplex. Ethan would be pissed. She climbed the steps to Brian’s apartment. Jenny’s words about Brian’s questioning had burned into her brain since she’d left the diner.

God, she was stupid. When they’d been together, Brian had always wanted to videotape them having sex. She’d been a virgin when she was dating him and his suggestion had freaked her out. And now they’d found a camera planted over her bed? That couldn’t be a coincidence.

Her hand shook as she lifted it to the door and knocked. The glass screen door rattled beneath her knuckles and footsteps sounded from inside.

She closed her eyes on a sigh. She wouldn’t go inside, she’d ask to talk to him on the porch…surely if he was the one hewouldn’t attack her in broad daylight. Dread climbed up her esophagus.

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