Page 47 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge

“Wasn’t your mother nice to you when you were a kid?”She was grasping at straws but had to find something that worked.She needed to buy time so she could figure a way out of this mess and back to her new life.

“Don’t talk about her.”

Bingo.Sore spot.

“I heard what she did to you,” she lied.“Over and over again.I also heard that you secretly liked it.Didn’t you?Yes, you liked it when she beat you, and you liked it even more when she—”

His hands came up over his ears to cover them.“Stop talking.Now!”

Push too far, and he might punish her even more.Don’t push enough, and he might do unspeakable things to her before killing her.

What the hell should she do now?They were in a remote location.An abandoned barn.No one knew where she was.

Facing facts, she had to face the reality that no cavalry would arrive.

17

Where the hell was Evie?

The question haunted Owen.Why couldn’t he find her?

“Is it possible that he forced her into the back of his vehicle and is already miles from here?”Owen asked.

Travis pursed his lips.“Possible but not probable.”He leaned forward.“The most likely scenario is that the suspect has been planning this for some time.”

“Meaning he’d always planned to abduct Simone?”

“That’s correct.”Travis picked up the pen he’d been writing with and tapped the end on the pad of paper.“His plans were most likely rushed when she stopped chatting with him online.Then, his fixation spiraled.His recent decisions were made in haste, which might force a mistake.If he gets careless, there’ll be an easier trail to follow.But more than likely he already has a place.”

“He has a dirt bike.Wouldn’t that mean the site would be close to his home?”Owen was spitballing here, hoping an idea would gain traction.He needed to find a thread of hope to hang onto.

“A quick transfer makes the most sense,” Travis agreed.“He set the trap on his grandmother’s property.”

“He had to know she would defend him and not give anything away to the law.”

“That’s correct.”Travis tapped the pen a little harder.

Owen stood up and paced.It was dark by now.Long past dinner.He wouldn’t be able to eat if he tried.All he wanted right now was to bring Evie home safely.

“I’m making coffee,” he said to Travis.“Want some?”

“Yes, please.”

Owen put on a fresh pot and poured two cups.He handed one over to Travis as a thought struck.“What if he’s keeping her right underneath our noses?”

Travis rubbed tired eyes, then blinked up at him.“What do you mean?”

“He’s been spending a whole lot of time on Ashworth property recently,” Owen began.“What if he’s been mapping out a course in addition to monitoring Simone?”

Travis’s face lit up.“It’s possible.”

“The dirt bike had to have been stashed nearby,” Owen continued, his brain starting to click.“What if he always planned to take Simone on the bike?”

“Would she go willingly?”

“The setup with the fake bomb…” he said.“She would comply if he threatened someone close to her.”

They stared each other in the eyes.

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