Was he telling the truth? No, he couldn’t be. Because if it wasn’t him, then who the hell was it?
Hamish’s mother stepped outside, phone in hand. “Get off our land. My boy’s done nothing wrong.”
A car pulled into the drive, and Lock turned his head, only to curse under his breath.
“I called the sheriff’s office,” his mother added.
Eastern had gotten here too quickly. He’d probably already been on his way to question Hamish.
“Lock,” Eastern shouted. “Let him go or I’ll be forced to cuff you.”
Ignoring Eastern’s words, Lock turned back to Hamish, looking him dead in the eye. “Tell me one more time you didn’t do it. That you’re not behind the notes she’s been getting. That you’ve done nothing to scare Callie.”
Hamish met his gaze. “I’ve done n-nothing to scare Callie. And I haven’t written her any n-notes.”
He was telling the truth. Lock stumbled back.
There was someone else. A blind goddamn threat. Someone with eyes on his woman. Someone willing to kill for her.
Eastern had tried to warn him, but he hadn’t listened.
He stormed to his truck.
“Lock! Get the hell back here,” Eastern shouted.
Lock wrapped his fingers around the door handle, only to have his brother grab his shoulder and spin him around. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I know that. But what else was I supposed to do? Just sit around and wait for him to strike again?”
“I’m gonna find him.”
“When? After his next kidnapping attempt?” It was a low blow. His brother was a former Navy SEAL and an excellent sheriff, butfuck, Lock was angry. Frustrated, he ran his fingers through his hair. “It wasn’t Hamish.”
“How do you know?”
“I asked him. I saw it in his eyes. He had no idea about the attack last night.”
Eastern eased his hold on Lock. “So it’s someone else.” His brother looked as disappointed as he felt, because Hamish would have been an easy suspect. Lock had wanted it to be him…because then the case was solved.
Eastern stepped back. “Come with me to the station and we’ll brainstorm.”
Lock climbed into his truck, his mind moving at a million miles a minute as he drove. This person was watching her, so he had to be close. Was it someone she knew and trusted? Someone sheallowedto be close to her?
For a single second, a thought popped into his head. Something he hadn’t allowed himself to consider until now. The man last night had been strong, fast, and well trained…all the attributes the guys on his team possessed…just as Eastern had suggested.
No. It wasn’t Jesse or Antwan. Even if they weren’t like family, they’d been at Meridian last night with Aspen.
Hadn’t they?
Before he could talk himself out of it, he hit the Bluetooth on the wheel and called his brother. Cody answered on the first ring.
“Lock. Everything okay?”
“Not really. I need you to tell me that Jesse and Antwan were at the bar last night.”
His brother didn’t hesitate. “Jesse and Antwan were at the bar last night. Although, we were busy, so I didn’t have eyes on them the entire night. But I saw them arrive. Jesse and Aspen were together most of the night, and Antwan was chatting with a woman. And they all left together around eleven.”
The weight on Lock’s chest lifted. Callie’s attack had occurred at nine thirty. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
