Page 180 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

Then one final sentence. “I hope you make a better choice this time.”

The line disconnected. Silence filled the truck again.

JP finally turned to her. “You’re not going alone.”

Chapter 70

Thursday morning

Sabre barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she heard Daniel Rourke’s voice saying, You will never see Hannah Caldwell again.

Morning light filtered through the kitchen windows while the house slowly woke around her. JP stood near the counter with coffee in one hand and his phone in the other while DuBois talked through speaker.

“We ran the SUV plate first thing this morning,” DuBois said.

JP looked toward Sabre. “And?”

“It’s registered to a mailbox rental at a UPS store in Riverside under the name Darren Roman. We’ve established it belongs to Rourke.”

Sabre sat quietly at the table listening.

“What about Rourke’s phone?” JP asked.

“Same deal. Different number, same mailbox address.”

JP nodded.

“So, he’s been operating under aliases for awhile.”

“Looks that way.”

Sabre wrapped both hands around untouched coffee.

“What about his actual residence?”

“No confirmed hit yet,” DuBois admitted. “The registered address tied to his PI license is also a mailbox. It reads like an apartment, but it goes to UPS. I spoke to the manager at the store. He said the box owner gets very little mail and only comes in about once or twice a year. They weren’t sure when Rourke was last in.”

DuBois’ voice sharpened. “Listen carefully, both of you. If he contacts Sabre again, we keep him talking and work the phone trace.”

“He’s not using his real number,” JP said.

“I know. But burners still hit towers.”

It wasn’t perfect, but it was something.

“He thinks he’s protecting her,” Sabre added.

JP looked over. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Maybe not legally. But psychologically, it’s important. Men who believe they are righteous are harder to predict.”

DuBois cut back in. “I’ve got people pulling every short-term rental, storage unit, and mailbox connection tied to those aliases.” A pause. “But if Rourke is moving already, we may be behind him. I’ll let you know if I find out anything new.”

Sabre picked up her keys.

“Are you going to court?”

“I’m going to see Bay first.”