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“I didn’t.” But I had guessed by the terrified look in her eyes that she had been harassed by Chapman, maybe even worse than that. If he were a stranger to her, she probably would have been relieved to tell someone about it. But if he were a boyfriend, she would feel some twisted sense of loyalty to him.
A tear fell down her cheek and she wiped it away hastily. “I didn’t know what he was planning. He said he was just going to scare her so she would bury the bill. But he kept taking it further and further. Then today, I—”
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
“What happened today?” I asked.
“I went into the office as usual, but the governor stopped answering her emails a few hours ago. I tried calling her but nothing. Then I called Ed. And when he didn’t answer, I didn’t know what to think. So, I went to his trailer, but he wasn’t there. Then I came home. I’ve been trying to get a hold of him and the governor, but I can’t.”
“Why didn’t you call the police?” I asked.
“And say what? I have no idea what he’s done or even if he’s involved.”
“You could have called me.”
She ran her hands through her hair, messing up the bun further. “I know that now, but a few hours ago, I thought I was overreacting. Besides, the governor had a bodyguard. Ed couldn’t have gotten close to her.”
“He did. He kidnapped her.”
Maxine’s face shriveled up and her bottom lip trembled, then she began to cry in earnest. “Oh god. Oh god.”
I grabbed Maxine and gathered her in my arms. “Maxine, I need you to keep it together, all right? I need you to help us find my mother. Where would Ed have taken her?”
Maxine clutched my coat and wailed on my shoulder. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Jake’s phone rang, and he answered it.
“Jager? Have you got something?”
Jake nodded. “All right. Text me the address. Thanks, Jager.”
“What is it?” I asked when Jake ended the call.
“One of Jager’s police contacts just called him. They found the car outside of an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Wellington. It used to be the old chicken farm there.”
Maxine sucked in a breath.
“Do you know it?” I asked.
She nodded. “My father and Ed’s uncle used to work there together. That’s how we knew each other. They’re friends. But they both lost their jobs when the farm shut down nearly a year ago.”
Jake nodded. Yes, it sounded like it would be the perfect place to bring my mother.
“Let’s go,” said Jake, and Maxine stopped him with a hand on his arm. He stared at it pointedly.
“I should come,” she said.
He shook off her touch. “I don’t think so.”
“Jake, that might not be a bad idea,” I said.
He shook his head in disbelief. “It’s a terrible idea. The worst idea ever, in fact. I don’t want to bring you to this right now. Why would I bring another civilian?”
“Because she might be the only person who could reason with him.”
We both stared at Maxine with her large eyes, red cheeks, and trembling hands. As much as I wanted her to stay back, she could be the only one to stop Chapman from hurting my mother. If he hadn’t done so already. But I knew it was a risk bringing a terrified person into a hostile situation. Anything could go wrong.
“You’re both staying in the car,” Jake warned.
