Page 82 of Her Devoted HERO

“I want to see another photograph of Austin.” What was the term? “I want proof that he’s alive.” That wasn’t the term. “I want proof of life. That’s it. I want proof of life!” she shouted into the phone.

“Show me my son!” she said stalling. “Send a picture of him to this phone.”

The passenger door opened. She was facing a gun.

***

“He has a cabin at Big Bear, and his house in La Jolla,” Clint said over the speaker on the Dex’s cell phone. “Sanchez called, and they got a hit on the Monte Carlo heading east on the Fifty-Six, so both of those are out.”

Ever since hearing that both of the phones with trackers had ended up on the Moonlight Beach parking lot and not with Kenna, Dex’s mind had been going rapid fire, considering and discarding possible ways to find her or Buddy Finch. The man wasn’t at his office at Genesee Executive Plaza, his secretary hadn’t seen him since yesterday morning.

“Clint, does his company have any holdings? Any places he might have taken her?” Dex asked.

“For fuck’s sake, of course, I looked. He has two small office buildings, both occupied. Nothing that could work. Right now, I’m checking all of Rosalie’s properties. That’s more complicated.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Dex demanded.

“She had seven husbands. I have to go through seven different names. Do you know that she has thirteen step-kids? Buddy is her only living blood relative. Her son died, hence there’s Buddy.”

“I don’t give a shit. Find me a place that is east of La Jolla that Buddy is using as a killing ground! Meanwhile, I’m going to check out his house and see if there are any clues there.”

“Got it.” Clint hung up.

Hunter was already at the door, and Dex was halfway to him when Penny called out to him from the other room. She had been staying in the living room, but it was obvious she had been listening in.

“Penny, I’ve got to go,” he said distractedly.

“Wait. It’s important.” She rushed up beside him and grabbed his arm. She looked like she had aged twenty years. “I think somebody needs to talk to Rosalie and just ask her about the properties. She’d have the best idea where to look.”

“Penny,” Dex started.

“Rosalie’s a big girl. If her grandson is involved, she’ll want him caught. She’ll want to help Kenna.”

“We don’t have time.”

“You have to make time. I’m telling you, she’ll tell you what you need to know.”

“All right, I’ll call her on the way to Buddy’s house.”

Penny squeezed his arm and shook her head. “A call won’t get it done.”

He hesitated.

“Goddammit, Dex. You know I’m right!” Shit, now he knew where Kenna got it from. She was right.

“Okay, I’ll go now.”

She gave a tight nod and let go of his arm. He went out the door. Hunter was in his truck and had it started up when he sprinted to his jeep. It didn’t need to be said that they were going to take two vehicles in case they needed to split up. When he got in, he pulled out his phone. Dalton and Griff still hadn’t arrived at Jack’s house. They were minutes away.

“Griff, call Clint. He’s going to give you directions to Buddy Finch’s house in La Jolla. We’re pretty damned sure he’s the killer. We’re also pretty damned sure his house is empty because he’s got Kenna pointed towards Poway. But we need you to check it out. See if you can find anything that might lead us to where he’s keeping her.”

***

Dex thought Rosalie was going to pass out, but then she rallied.

“He’s not a killer.”

Hunter was looking at her, assessing.