Page 4 of The Missing Couple

What if the two actually had been abducted? What if they had come here as an escape from some sort of trouble? Charly considered the fact that the reservation had been made weeks ago so that really didn’t seem feasible. Then again, they may have been planning whatever had gotten them into trouble for months.

The whole idea sounded ludicrous.

The sound of another vehicle arriving drew their collective attention toward the road that wound through the acres and acres of woods that separated the retreat from the main highway. SUV. Black. Too shiny to be from around here. Even as the thought occurred to her, dust from the gravel drive that the vehicle’s movement had stirred up began to settle on its glossy exterior.

“You expecting another guest?” Lathan asked.

“No. Not until Friday.” Charly studied the tinted windows. She couldn’t tell yet if there was one person in the vehicle or more…man or woman.

“Maybe your missing couple got a new ride,” another deputy suggested with a half-hearted chuckle.

“Maybe,” Charly agreed rather than tell him that wasn’t very likely. But then again, maybe she was wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time. Maybe their rental broke down and they got another one.

The SUV found a spot away from the two cruisers and parked. The driver’s-side door opened and Charly couldn’t help holding her breath.

Male. Blond hair.

Not Martin Willard—the groom who’d brought his bride here for a quick honeymoon. Martin had black hair. His new wife, Briana, had blond hair.

The man who’d emerged from the SUV wore all black, shirt, trousers and a lightweight jacket. Even his shoes were black. She would bet his socks and underwear were as well.

“That’s not one of the missing guests,” Charly said, putting all the uniforms at ease.

The blond-haired man’s gaze scanned the group before narrowing in on her. “Are you Charlotte Nix?”

Charly descended the two steps off her porch. “I am.”

“I’m Billie Jagger. You called me.”

She nodded. “You sent that text message to Mrs. Willard.”

He surveyed the deputies once more. “Is there an update? Has Briana returned?”

“I’m afraid—” Charly began but Deputy Lathan cut her off with, “Let’s see some ID, sir.” He stepped closer to the new arrival.

Billie Jagger didn’t hesitate. He removed his wallet from his hip pocket and showed his driver’s license.

“Chicago,” Lathan said. He harrumphed. “How do you know Mr. and Mrs. Willard?”

“Briana is my sister.”

“Have you heard from your sister in the last twenty-four hours?” Lathan asked while one of the other deputies walked around the man’s SUV as if he suspected he was hauling contraband.

“I have not,” Billie said. “When I last saw her or spoke to her she was in a limousine heading to the airport with her new husband. They were supposed to be back in Chicago yesterday afternoon.”

“Do you know of any reason one or both might want to disappear?” Lathan went on.

Charly hadn’t gotten the impression from the newlyweds that either of them wanted anything but each other. What was Lathan implying? Was there something he hadn’t told her? She’d briefly toyed with the idea after he brought it up, but he spoke now as if he knew something. Maybe only to prompt a particular reaction from this man.

Billie shook his head. “None at all. If my sister and her husband are missing, something has happened to them. They wouldn’t do this sort of thing willingly.”

Lathan’s gaze narrowed with suspicion. “What sort of thing?”

Dear God. What was he doing? This man’s sister was missing!

“Deputy—” Billie looked to the name tag on the other man’s shirt “—Lathan, I’m aware you don’t know my sister and her husband. I understand you have to look at any disappearance from all angles. But I really wish you wouldn’t waste precious time. If my sister is not where she said she would be, then something has happened to her. End of story.”

Well, the stranger sure told Cohen with that one. Charly pressed her lips together to prevent a smile. “You call me,” she said to the deputy, “the instant you get something back on the vehicle.”