Once Josh wasn’t a threat, both cops did a quick sweep of the place. The thinner cop returned to Josh, while his partner started talking into his radio.
Josh couldn’t hear what was being said, but he didn’t have to. The cop was probably reporting what they’d found so far.
The one in front of Josh moved his lips, but he wasn’t talking loud or close enough for Josh to hear.
So Josh angled his head.
In a flash, the cop’s hand was on the gun at his side.
“I can’t hear all that well. You need to talk into my right ear. Or speak up.”
He visibly relaxed. “Name,” he practically shouted.
“My girlfriend is outside.” The word girlfriend came out easily as if Riley and Josh had been dating forever. The thought of her being his girl appealed to him in so many ways.She lives in Boston. Long-distance relationships don’t work.“Can I make sure she’s all right? Then I’ll answer all your questions.”
“That’s not how this works,” he said.
The name on his uniform read Tanner. “Officer Tanner,” Josh said politely. “You can arrest me, but please, I need to make sure she’s okay. She’s in a blue Honda with my service dog.”
One eyebrow rose. “Hodge,” Tanner said to his partner. “Can you check a blue Honda outside?”
Hodge nodded, revealing a double chin as he stalked out.
Josh slumped his shoulders. “My cousin Liza Bandon lives here. I think she’s in trouble. Is that why you’re here?”
Tanner glanced around. “No. A Grayson Shield called. He reported that people have been in and out of this apartment all day.”
Josh knitted his brows. “Did he say if my cousin was one of those people?” Surely, Grayson wouldn’t report anything to the cops if Liza was here or if he didn’t think she was in trouble.
“No. Do you know who tore up the place?”
“No clue.” The more the hours ticked by with no sign of Liza, the more Josh’s stomach knotted. “I was here earlier today… ”
Hodge returned. “There’s no blue Honda outside.”
The blood drained from Josh’s face. Stars coated his vision.Don’t panic. Riley probably sensed danger and took off. You did tell her do that.
“Did you notice a black SUV with two men in it parked outside?” Josh asked, holding his breath.
Hodge shook his head.
Josh had to be as pale as the walls in the apartment.First Liza. Now Riley.Liza’s last words were “take care of Riley.” Josh’s heart skipped a beat. The cuffs were cutting off his circulation. And suddenly, the room was becoming claustrophobic. “Please take these cuffs off.” His tone was lethal.
Tanner’s eyebrows climbed to his dark hairline. “It’s time to take you down to the station for more questioning.”
“I need to find my girl.” Josh did everything he could to soften his tone, but he knew firsthand that appealing to a cop never worked. Josh could talk until he was blue in the face. They were only doing their jobs. Case in point: Dad had called to say Mom was in the hospital and that he didn’t have good news.
“Get here as fast as you can,” he’d said.
Josh had explained to the officer that night that he was headed to an emergency.
“As much as I would like to believe you, I get that excuse all the time,” the officer had said.
But a speeding ticket had a lower penalty than breaking and entering.
Tanner gripped Josh’s arm. “Let’s go.”
“Please. Can I at least call my girl?” Josh pleaded one more time.
“You’ll get your phone call down at the station,” Tanner said.
As soon as they were outside, Josh’s head darted to where Riley had been parked, but there was no car. He searched up and down the street to no avail. Even the black SUV was gone.
