Sirens wailed in the distance, growing closer. Sandy's patrol car flew up the driveway, followed by two more units. She was out of her vehicle just as it jerked to a stop, striding toward them with purpose. "Talk to me," she said. "What happened?"
Devon handed her his phone and showed her the email. "It's fake. Emery didn't send it. Someone took her from right here—" He gestured to where the mug had been found. “I don’t know how long ago, but I got that email fifteen minutes ago.”
Sandy read the email, expressionless. All cop. Something that Devon had grown to resent, but in this moment, he appreciated the sense of urgency. “I’ll need a copy of this, and I can have IT check it out.” She glanced up. “So, I had enough to bring in Winston and Callie for questioning last night, but not enough to keep them. Not to mention, they lawyered up the second they came into the station. But it was insightful.”
“What does that mean?” Devon asked.
“You’re going to have to trust me.” Sandy handed the cell back to Devon. “I’m still waiting for IT to get back to me on the email chain that was sent to the reporter. They promised I’d have it by morning.”
“How are Gabe’s fake emails connected to this, exactly?” Devon glared.
“We have reason to believe that someone was trying to make it look like Gabe and Emery were working together to do two things. I can’t get into what that is, or how I know that.” Sandy turned and faced one of her deputies. "I want a full search of this property. Look for signs of a vehicle, tire tracks, anything that shows how they got her off the premises."
The deputies scattered, moving with practiced efficiency. Riley was already on her laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard. Ashley and Hasley stood huddled together on the deck, both pale and shaken.
Sandy turned her attention back to Devon. “I need access to your security cameras.”
“Not a problem,” Walter said.
Devon couldn't move. Couldn't think past the image of Emery being dragged away in the darkness, scared and hurt and wondering why no one had come to help her. He’d failed her. “I should have stayed," he said. "I should have been here."
"You can't be with her every second," Walter said quietly. "No one can."
"But I promised. I promised I'd keep her safe."
"And you did everything you could." Brea pulled him into a fierce motherly hug. The kind of hug she’d given him as a small boy when he’d been hurt or didn’t feel well. But this time, it didn’t ease the torment. “This is not your fault. Do you hear me? This is not your fault."
“It’s hard not to blame myself.” He kissed his mother’s cheek and pulled away.
Michael stood apart from the group, staring out at the vineyard like he could see something the rest of them couldn't.
“I’m sorry,” Devon said, moving to stand beside him. "I swear to God, we'll get her back."
“If anything happens to my daughter, there won't be enough police in this valley to stop me from tearing apart whoever took her."
Devon understood the sentiment. Felt it in his bones.
Someone had taken Emery. Had lured her out of the house and disappeared with her into the pre-dawn darkness.
And when Devon found them—when, not if—they were going to regret they'd ever been born.
Seventeen
Pain radiated through Emery's skull in waves, each one making her stomach lurch. Her eyes felt glued shut, and when she finally forced them open, the world swam in sickening circles.
She blinked.
It wasn’t dark. But it wasn’t bright. And she was moving. In a vehicle. The engine hummed beneath her, vibrations traveling through her body where it pressed against carpet that smelled like mildew and motor oil.
She tried to move her hands and couldn't. Her wrists were bound behind her back, zip ties cutting into skin. Her ankles were tied too—she could feel the bite of plastic when she tried to shift her legs.
Panic flooded through her, sharp and immediate. Where was she? How did she?—
The man. The shadow in the vineyard. Arms around her. Something hitting her head.
Oh God.
Emery wiggled, struggling against her restraints, fighting to get upright. Her shoulders screamed in protest, muscles cramping from being twisted behind her. But she managed toroll onto her side, then wedge herself up against the side of the vehicle.
