Page 23 of Preying Heart
“We’re good, boss. The guy she was with took off with the van, but he ditched it at a residence. Broke in and stole the old couple’s car. Ditched the car at a remote overlook.”
“And?” I tap my fingers on the bathroom stall, impatient with the idiots I’m forced to work with.
“Forest rangers said they could be anywhere. Lots of hikers and vacationers in the area.”
“He must have switched cars. Any reports of stolen cars?”
“Multiple. We’re checking them out,” Guy says.
“I want her caught, and I want the brother. What took you so long to get back to me?”
“We’re injured. Alfonso has a busted knee, and I could have been killed when he stole the van.”
I couldn’t care less about their injuries. They obviously screwed up an easy extraction. Although the fact that Remi is with another man so quickly is worrying. Did she know him before she left Seattle? Or could she have met him online and planned the getaway? I’ve been too lenient letting her pursue her education and giving her the penthouse and all the amenities.
This is how she repays me. Sleeping with the first available prick she finds. My upper lip is twitching as I stab the pen I’m holding into a roll of toilet paper. Things are spiraling out of control. I should have had Guy take her to the abortion clinic. Conniving witch double-crossed me, and now the loser brother skipped out on bail.
“You gave descriptions to the cops?”
“Yes, and Remi’s picture,” Guy says. “Told them she’s been abducted.”
“We need to widen the net. Get her on the news. Attractive female like her will get a lot of attention. I’ll ask my parents to report her missing. Her cell phone stopped pinging on southbound 5.”
“Rangers think they headed to Oregon.”
“Get rid of Alfonso. He’s a liability. My parents will put out a reward for their foster daughter, and I will have nothing to do with it.”
“And then when she returns? What should I do?” Guy cracks his knuckles loud enough to carry over the phone line.
“Nothing. Leave her to me. You go after the brother. Do not turn him over to the cops.” Stab. Stab. Stab. The toilet paper roll shreds, and I slam-dunk it into the toilet where it balloons into a white, cloudy mess.
“Take him underground?”
“Exactly. By the time we finish with him, he’ll wish he stayed in the criminal justice system.” I hang up and kick the flush handle of the toilet.
Chunks of soggy toilet paper explode into the stall. Glad I’m not the sucker who has to clean it up.
ChapterNine
Remi
There’s a spot of blood on my panties. It’s fresh and red, and I’m afraid.
I haven’t decided whether I want this baby or not, but if anything happens to him it’s my fault for delaying. Plus, all the miles I walked, the sweating and dehydration, blisters and sunburn, and the rough ride on the grain hopper platform leaves me a hot mess.
I sit on the toilet and dab myself with paper. It’s pink and thankfully not gushing. But this is not good.
After showering and dressing, I knock on Heath’s office door. Several deadbolts slide before he opens it. Glock sticks his nose out and stares at me—ears up and alert.
“You hungry?” he asks. “I let you sleep late. You had a tough day.”
“Yeah, I did.” I notice he’s shaved and combed his hair. The weariness is out of his eyes, and he has a skip to his step as he comes out of the office and shuts the door, as if he doesn’t want me to see what he’s been doing.
Guess I’m an invader, and he has his own business.
“I hate to bother you so early.”
He places a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
