Page 26 of Capturing You
“Repairs.”
“What kind?”
“The house hasn’t been lived in for decades. What do you think?”
“You see anything unusual this morning?”
“Aside from too many visitors?”
“Any boats?”
“Nope.”
“Hear anything?”
“Nope.”
The cop pursed his lips. “She’s gotta be here, somewhere.” He shifted, trying to spy beyond Forbes into the house.
Forbes centered himself in the doorway. “There’s nobody here but me.”
“I tracked her phone. It’s on this property.”
“Why don’t you call her, then? If she’s sharing her location with you, she can tell you where she is.”
The cop’s eye contact slipped.
“I see. Sheisn’tsharing her location with you, Officer”—he checked the name printed on a gold tag—“L. Taggart. In which case, how did you track it?”
“I’m a cop.”
Not an answer. Some cops might have access to that information, but surely it wasn’t legal for them to access it without cause.
“I need to search the premises,” Taggart said.
“Search the grounds all you want. If she’s out there, I’m sure you’ll find her. You wanna come in? Get a warrant.”
“I’m trying to protect her.”
“I’m trying to keep my job. I was told not to let anybody into the house. You’ll have to take it up with the owners.”
Taggart narrowed his eyes, seemed to be scheming. For a second, Forbes feared the guy was going to force his way in.
Forbes would be able to stop him, assuming Taggart didn’t pull that gun holstered to his hip, but doing so would invite too much attention. Too many questions.
Forbes could just let him in, but Brooklynn’s assessment was spot-on. This guy was stalker-ish.
Only without theish.
He could practically see Taggart’s gears moving, considering the ramifications of barging in. After a long, tense moment, he took a step back. “I’ll need your boss’s number to confirm your story.”
“Wait here.” Forbes slammed the door, found his wallet where he’d left it in the kitchen, and pulled a business card out. He opened the door again and handed it over.
The cop read it. “Ballentine Enterprises?” He looked up. “They still own it after all these years?”
Forbes shrugged. “I don’t know anything about it. I just talked to the fellow who hired me.”
Of course,the fellowwas Tim, Forbes’s assistant, and he wouldn’t give anyone access to the house without Forbes’s permission.
