Page 55 of Smoldering Nights
"I'll be damned.So he is dangerous."
“And unstable,” Jayson added.“Which makes him more dangerous.”
Mitch leaned back in his chair.“Okay.We’ve got Sadie’s photos, the drugs from Delilah’s salon, surveillance of Travis entering multiple times, and now a potential pattern of stalking behavior from Noah.All roads are converging.Do we have anything tying Noah to Delilah and Travis?”
“We also don’t know who’s pulling the strings,” Jayson said.“Someone’s supplying that fentanyl.Could be local, could be someone in Louisville.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Mitch said firmly.“We take the players off the board here first.”
Jayson nodded.“So what’s the move?”
Mitch stood and began pacing the small office.“We need to get Sadie out of that house.If Travis suspects she knows anything, she’s a target.”
“I’ll reach out.Tell her we’ve got a safe house in town.You okay with her staying there?”
“Yes.Get her out quietly.Don’t let her pack anything.Just tell her to bring her phone and come now.”
Jayson made the call while Mitch grabbed a notepad and began sketching out their timeline.The salon had to be searched, Delilah questioned, Travis arrested, or at least brought in for questioning, and Noah.Noah needed to be watched until they had enough to put him away for good.Preferably before he got close to Izzy again.
When Jayson hung up, he gave a nod.“Sadie’s on her way.She didn’t argue.She actually seemed relieved.”
“Good.We’re going to need her statement, and she’ll be safer out of that house.”
“What about Izzy?”
Mitch’s eyes narrowed.“I’m reinforcing security at the condo and staying close.If Noah tries anything, I want to be the one who sees it coming.”
Jayson nodded.“And if he doesn’t?”
Mitch’s tone turned cold.“Then we find him before he gets the chance.”
Mitch pulled up his phone and tapped Izzy's number.
"Hi."
He smiled despite his mood."Hey.I'll come home and drive you to the shop this morning.Please don't leave the house without me there."
"Why, is something wrong?"
"I'll tell you when I get there.Don't open the door, don't leave the building.I'm leaving the office now."
Chapter28
Izzy paced as she waited for Mitch.Something was happening today.She'd felt it when Mitch left this morning, a heavy dread in her stomach.After his call, that dread turned into a hot rock in her stomach.She wanted to call Sadie and make sure she was okay, but if Travis was there, she didn't want to make things worse for Sadie.She'd chided herself all morning for not demanding that Sadie come and stay with them last night.
The locks began turning in the door, and she held her breath for a moment before realizing, no one had the key but Mitch.Still, she stood frozen in place near the kitchen counter.The instant she saw Mitch step through the door, her breath rushed from her lungs.He turned and saw the concern on her face, and his lips turned down slightly as he neared.
"It's okay, Izzy.Things are finally coming to a head.This is simply a precaution for your safety."
"Sadie..."
"Is on her way to my office, where Jayson will take her to the safe house we have in town."
"You have a safe house?"
"Yes.It's loaded with security and just out of town a bit.It has a large garage on the property where I keep extra security vehicles."
Her brows bunched together, and she tilted her head to the right."Why didn't you put me in the safe house?"
