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She gestures to the bench. “They’ll be right out.”
An hour later, I’m being walked out by the sketch artist. It was almost impossible not to think of Lurch as I was describing the guy. At times, I wondered if I was mixing them up. Describing someone in enough detail to create a perfect picture is challenging. I didn’t remember anything distinctive about him, so the picture looks like any other guy. In the end, the only thing I was certain of were his hollow eyes.
“Thanks for coming in,” he says, holding his hand to shake mine.
When I reach for his hand, a bark stops me. Lots of barks follow. The guy looks past me to see where it’s coming from. I close my eyes for a beat, and my lips twitch.
“He must’ve found something,” he says.
Yeah. He found me.
I spin around to find Riggs leading a confused Paxton right toward me. When he sees me, I see the confusion play out in his handsome features. Riggs trots over and sits perfectly still next to me as if telling his handler, look here. I laugh, bending down and wrapping my arms around Riggs.
He doesn’t hate me for leaving.
“Kali.” Hearing him say my name kickstarts the beat of my heart. I stand back up, and his eyes bounce between me and the sketch artist. He’s dressed in a blue suit, his badge on his hip, and damn does he look good. “Wha…what are you doing here?”
“Ms. Stevens, it was nice to meet you,” the guy says. He gives Paxton a quick nod and then turns to leave.
He points to the guy. “And why were you meeting with Dante?”
The question stabs me in the heart, reminding me why I’m here. My vision blurs with tears. “My best friend’s missing. And I think he took her.”
His entire body hardens. The uncertainty of my visit, of us, vanishes, and he morphs into Officer Turner.
“What? She’s missing from Austin? When did you get back in town? Have you filed a police report?” He takes a breath, slightly irritated. “I need you to start from the beginning.”
I exhale sharply and blink back my tears. I need to keep it together for Ari.
“Our flight was diverted to Austin. Ari never came back to the hotel after going out. There was a creepy guy on the plane, someone knocked three times, and now she’s missing. I know it’s him.” The words fall out quickly, and I can see he’s trying to keep up. “I just left Martinez, and he called the cops. Her name is Arabella Lancaster.”
He quirks his head to the side. What part is confusing? “We had a meeting this morning about her before I had to go to court. They never said this was linked to you.”
“Martinez said they’re treating it like a typical missing person because he hasn’t left his signature anywhere. But I know it’s him.”
He bobbles his head left and right. “I kind of agree with Martinez. Most perps don’t stray from their MO, especially if this is your guy. He’d want you to know he still has the upper hand.”
Why can’t everyone see that he’s made himself known? Three knocks. Ari. He couldn’t be any more obvious. I think about the name on the list. Maybe she saw him. Maybe she got a better look at him and can help with the sketch. “I have to go. I’ll catch up with you later?”
“Where are you going?”
“I have to go to Blackburn.”
His eyes roam past me, scanning the precinct. “You’re by yourself?”
I nod, and his mouth turns down and his jaw tics.
“How do you plan on getting there?”
“I was going to call a rental car company.”
He shakes his head. “You can tell me in detail everything while I drive you there.” I open my mouth to object. “That wasn’t a question,” he states, taking a step closer to me. Bossy Paxton is in the building. “Let me get my keys and tell my boss.” His eyes flicker up and down, and he shakes his head as if still in shock that I’m standing in front of him. “It’s good to see you.”
My heart falters when there’s not an ounce of heat in his words. They’re words you tell a friend that you haven’t seen in a while. Not a woman you love. He’s moved on. He’s no longer mine.
But I answer him honestly, as I’m not sure I’ll ever stop loving this man. “I wish it wasn’t under these circumstances.”
He nods with a tight smile. “Riggs, stay with Kali.”
