Page 59 of Barbed Wire and Burglary
“Twenty minutes ago, give or take.” Luke sounded harried. “We’ve notified the FBI and are callingeveryone into the station. We need all boots on the ground for roadblocks, checkpoints, you name it.”
“What can I do to help?” Aaron had been vacuuming out his truck, since it was his day off and he was bored out of his mind. It was a relief to have something to do again.
Luke huffed out a breath. “Why don’t you head out to the roadblock they’re setting up at the main entrance into town? And take A.J. with you. If he hasn’t gotten a call yet from Lonestar, he’ll be getting one shortly.”
A clattering sound made Aaron glance toward the metal stairs leading up to A.J.’s apartment. A.J. was jogging down them two at a time.
“Looks like he got the call.” Aaron ended his call with the sheriff to intercept the scowling private investigator.
“Wonder what Elise Hathaway is doing in town,” A.J. growled.
“I know, right?” Being caught on camera felt careless. It was equally possible that it was deliberate. Elise was bold. So far, she’d proven to be adept at staying one step ahead of the authorities. “What are you thinking?” he asked as they climbed into A.J.’s truck. “One last smash and grab of stolen gems before she takes off for good?”
“Hard to tell.” A.J. yanked on his seatbelt. “She showed her face for a reason, though.”
“Yep,” Aaron concurred, “which got the FBI, police, and Lonestar Security scrambling.”
“All over town,” A.J. pointed out dryly. “Spreading us thin while she does what?”
Aaron chewed his way through the possibilities as A.J. drove toward the main checkpoint. “Maybe we need to quit looking at things like police officers and start thinking like a criminal.” He knew firsthand what a skilled actress his ex was was. “As far as she knows, Uncle Cary is as good asdead. What’s next for a woman on a murderous rampage?” He snapped his fingers as the most logical answer occurred to him. “Maybe she’s back to take another shot at me.”
“Or both of you,” A.J. agreed.
They exchanged a worried look. “Aurora!” They said her name in unison, and A.J. dialed her number.
She didn’t pick up, so he tried again. “No answer,” he said grimly.
Though they were expected at the roadblock, A.J. did a U-turn and gunned the motor. They sped back to the apartment and sprinted up the stairs.
The door was unlocked, even though A.J. swore he hadn’t left it unlocked. It took less than a minute to determine she wasn’t present, which was crazy. They’d only been gone a few minutes.
Aaron tried calling her again and again, but she didn’t pick up. He wanted to throw his phone across the room and howl at the ceiling, but it wouldn’t bring her back.
They’d been sent on a wild goose chase, and now Aurora was missing.
Chapter 10: Loose Ends
Ten minutes earlier
“Showtime!” A.J. shot to his feet, tossing his cards on the table. “Gotta run.”
“Where are you going?” Aurora, who was at the coffee maker brewing a cup while he took a call, whirled in his direction. “You can’t leave while I’m winning!”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, darling.” There was a spring in his step and a note of suppressed excitement as he hurried across the room to give her a kiss.
“No fair.” She pouted as he pivoted away from her. “It’s like icing the kicker in football. I could lose my momentum while you’re out doing…whatever it is you’re doing.” Since he wasn’t telling her, she knew it must have something to do with the case.
“Do me a favor,” he called over his shoulder, “and keep yourself locked inside for the next hour.”
“Okay.” She stared after him, sensing something big was about to go down. “Be careful, please.”
He paused at the door, turned around, and strode backto her with a pistol outstretched. He pressed it into her hands. “It’s loaded. Use it if you have to.”
Her eyes widened. “Is this about Elise?”
“Maybe, but you didn’t hear it from me.” He gave her a rough kiss and swung away from her again.
“She’s back in town, isn’t she?” Aurora squeaked.
