Page 92 of Desperate Justice
“It’s me,” Rafe whispered in her ear.
“You scared me.” She turned. “What’s going on?”
He peered over her shoulder. “I put the Do Not Disturb sign on the room so no maid enters.”
“You have to tell me what’s going on. Please. Is this related to Di’s disappearance?”
“Not sure yet. Come on.”
“I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”
“Get on.” He didn’t have time for this. “I’m taking you back to the cabin.”
“No way. Tell me what’s going on, Rafe. You’re not leaving me out of this!”
“Allison, it’s too dangerous.”
“I don’t care. I’ll find out. If you found something, let me know unless you want me asking everyone in town what you’re up to.”
Eyes closing, he swore in Spanish. “All right. Get on, but you need to do everything I say. Otherwise, I’ll drag you back to the cabin. Got it?”
Nodding meekly, she climbed back on.
They roared out the back entrance.
* * *
Allison was filled with worry. Rafe wasn’t talking, and clearly he found something. For now she had to trust him.
As they headed on the main road, she clung to Rafe. She didn’t know what happened. Didn’t know where they were headed. Yet she trusted him. Rafe was single-minded and fierce in his dedication to bringing down the bad guys, and his protective streak extended to those under his care. For now, she had to rely on her instinct that he wouldn’t turn Diana in, if her sister had fallen into trouble.
When he pulled into the entrance of The Dive Bar and parked, alarm filled her. Rafe cut the engine. Allison yanked off her helmet. Worry needled her.
“Why are we back here?”
Instead of answering her question, he pulled off his helmet and then the black driving gloves, his expression grim. Stubble on his face couldn’t mask the tension in his jaw.
“Allison, you’re sure you and Diana had the tan bears and you gave them to me? You didn’t see any others?”
“No. Di gave me her bear at the start of the bike run because she didn’t have any room. Then you took them.”
“And I gave them to Keith and Debbie after we got into town because they wanted all the bears together on the bed for their photo album. We were supposed to ride into town with the bears at three o’clock. It’ll be a media circus.”
He blew out a breath and dragged a hand through his hair.
A sinking sensation filled her. Allison’s pulse raced. “Oh damn, Rafe, what did you find in Keith and Debbie’s room?”
His mouth compressed. “Can’t say yet.”
“Will you quit being so secretive? Does this have to do with Di’s disappearance?”
“Don’t know. Ally, did you touch those bears after the wrapping was removed?”
“No. I gave them to Keith still wrapped up.” Suddenly she knew. “You found something inside of them?”
Rafe took a deep breath. “Fentanyl. I have agents coming here to test it, but damn it, Allison, we have to keep this quiet. Can’t risk blowing the investigation into Hernandez or putting more lives at risk. Can I have your word?”
There was more to this than she realized. Much more. “I promise.”
