“Do you have many assets, Miss Faber?” Jesse asked.
“Assets?” Jules asked. “I mean, I inherited a bit from my own parents when they passed on a few years ago. A house, some shares. A lump sum of money that I haven’t touched. I live pretty frugally because that’s what I’m used to. Why?”
It finally made sense. “He wants your inheritance. But then he found out about Addie, and she threatened that. He tried to scare her away before you two got close. But now…” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Jules shook her head. “No. He wouldn’t do that.”
The deputy stepped back into the room and looked at Jesse. “Sheriff, that was the station. Cassandra Ainslee’s car was caught on a few street cameras moving west.”
Noah looked at Jesse. “The park is west, but she wouldn’t—”
Suddenly, Noah’s phone dinged. He glanced down.
Shit.“That’s the silent alarm at the park…someone broke into the office.”
CHAPTER 30
“You lost her?”
Toby’s voice rang in Addie’s ears. Toby…all this time.
WaseverythingToby? The texts. Rhett’s murder and Ellis’s stabbing? All to scare her out of town? But why?
“She pretended she was unconscious andattackedme. Do you see my nose? I’m lucky she didn’t have a weapon!”
Addie touched a hand to her chest, trying to remain calm as she watched Toby’s shoes close the space between him and Cass. “We need to find hernow, before any of those soldiers show up.”
“No.” Cass stepped back. “The deal was, I deliver her here to you and then I leave.”
“I know this is scary, Cass. But if you don’t help me, and they find her, you’ll be arrested anyway.” His voice was soft now. Gentle. “ShemurderedRhett. You loved him. Help me make sure she can’t hurt anyone else.”
Jesus, had he been using his training as a therapist to manipulate Cass?
There was a pause before Cass spoke. “Thirty minutes. And if we don’t find her, I need to go.”
“Thank you. Call me if you find her. I’ll take care of her.”
“Good. Because I can’t kill anyone.”
“I know. It’s okay. That’s why I’m here.”
Addie’s belly rolled at that gentle, I-care-about-you fakeness. He was using Cass. Lying to her. And she was buying all of it.
Cass and Toby both walked away in opposite directions.
For a few minutes, Addie didn’t move. She wasn’t even sure if moving was the best option. She could wait here for Noah or Colt, because one of them had to arrive soon.
But there was a chance Cass or Toby would return, and she was vulnerable under this food truck. They’d probably already checked the cabin, so maybe they didn’t plan to return there? Plus, there were knives in the kitchen. A phone to call Noah, in case he hadn’t connected her with the alarm.
Move. Every part of her screamed that she needed to get out from under this vehicle. Run.
She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.
You can do this, Addie. Survive until help comes.
One more deep inhale and she slipped out from under the chassis, her body hurting from all the injuries. Her pulse galloped in her veins and her legs felt like rubber. But she moved. Slipping through the trees, trying to run quickly while keeping her steps as quiet as possible.
Her eyes scanned the forest around her, searching. Making sure she was alone. Every step had her breathing quickening and the fear in her chest squeezing and expanding.
