Page 149 of Coveted

Absentmindedly, I run my hand over the vehicles as I walk the labyrinth, hoping the cold metal will soothe me somehow.

When I see the car, I know immediately. It’s like my brain memorized every single crack of the shattered rear window from the brick I threw.

My breath leaves my lungs as I stare at it. This is the one. The car that the killer stole from Darkbloom to abduct Sadie. The car that apparently vanished without a trace.

Except it didn’t, because it’s sitting right here.

“The silver Corolla,” I shout, striding into the garage. “Who brought it here?”

Cormac stands, his face pinched with concern. The mechanic, Andy, comes out from under the car, spanner in hand.

“What’s that?” he asks with a frown.

I point. “The silver Corolla in the yard. Where did you get it?”

His baffled gaze clears.

“Ah, the broken rear window.” He rubs his neck. “Yeah, funny thing. The guy who brought it in wanted me to junk the car for scrap metal. I told him the car was too good for that, but he insisted. I said okay, because he didn’t even want money for it. Just left it to me.”

My pulse speeds up. “But you didn’t scrap it?”

“Nah.” Andy flashes a guilty smile. “I figure, it’s mine now, right? Worth more to sell it. It’s a good car. I just gotta get around to fixing the window.”

“Detectives didn’t come here?” I demand. “Asking if anyone brought a car in for rear-window repair?”

The mechanic seems to shrink, his shoulders rounding and smile fading. “Ah, yeah, they did come asking. But that’s not what the guy brought it in for, ya know? Technically speaking, he didn’t want repairs. So I said no.”

Wild fury branches through me like lightning.

The case could’ve been solved already. It should’ve been.

If she dies for this…

“Who was he?” My voice is so loud it bounces off the oily concrete floor and corrugated-iron walls.

The mechanic gurgles, and I realize I’m holding him by his throat, crushing his windpipe with both hands.

His spanner clatters to the floor.

“Lucan,” comes Cormac’s steady voice from behind. “We need him to speak.”

My chest heaving, I loosen my grip to drop Andy and step away.

“Who?” I ask through clenched teeth. “Do you know his name?”

“Yeah, I know it.” The mechanic’s voice is hoarse and he clutches his throat. “He stands out around here.”

Andy says the name and my heart fucking plummets.

It’s someone she knows.

If he goes for Sadie tonight, during all the Halloween mayhem, she’s dead.

“I have to get out of here,” I say, feeling like I’m in a nightmare. “Now.”

The car’s ready and I drive like a madman. Next to me in the passenger seat, Cormac dictates aloud Sadie’s exact location on the tracking app.

She’s not at the party in the mountains, like I expect. Making a sharp turn in the main street, I head in a different direction.