Sam did, though. He was beginning to expand his understanding of Covington. The guy wasn’t the first sexual predator with a keen understanding of how to lure his victims. He’d pretended to be someone else—a local teen she knew—when he’d convinced Gabriella to meet him in the woods ten years ago. Now the guy had upped his game. He could woo a young woman into doing his bidding while he was behind bars.
Including intimidating a witness. Had he also told Patience to send threats to Sam and Tiffany McCord?
“Was your sister upset you were going to offer testimony against Jeremy? Is that why she hit you?”
“Yes. But she’s just confused. She ran out of here afterwe argued, and I didn’t have a chance to talk to her. But I’m sure once I sat her down and told her?—”
“Where do you think she might go if she needed to hide?” Sam asked impatiently, concerned that Patience Wilkerson might be running scared and feeling desperate. What if that desperation drove her to even more witness intimidation? Or to carry out the threats she’d made against Aiden or Bailey?
Not on his watch.
He needed to check on his son and Bailey McCord. And he should alert Zach and Clayton to keep a close eye on Heather Finley, too.
And Amy. Damn, but he had to keep Amy safe. What if Covington was worried about some of his old victims coming forward? She could be at risk, too. More so than the others since she wasn’t under police protection.
“I have no idea where she would go.” Faith held her arms wide, gesturing to the cramped apartment full of furniture and disarray. “Our mom took off a long time ago. I’ve been taking care of Patience since she was in high school.” Almost as an afterthought, she added, “She has no money. Neither of us do.”
Which made her even more desperate. Sam wondered if Jeremy had any way to float funds to her.
Certainly not through his wife. If Tiffany’s read of the situation was correct, Kate Covington would be livid to learn her husband’s new mistress wasn’t much older than his son.
With Kate out of the question as a resource for Patience, that left J.D., who’d helped his father before. Unless Patience was operating alone.
“There are family services that can help you,” he toldFaith gently, fishing in his jacket pocket for a business card to hand her. As much as he hated to leave when Faith Wilkerson seemed to be near her personal breaking point, what choice did he have? “I want you to call them. But right now, I’m worried that your sister is in trouble, and I need to locate her as soon as possible.” He passed her a second card. “Call me if you hear from her or think of anything that might help.”
The young woman stood taller, her eyes full of concern as she tucked the cards in her pocket.
“Please find her before she does anything stupid.” She gripped his arm with both hands. “Now that I know what she’s been doing, I can help her see this scumbag for what he really is. She’s not a bad person, Sheriff. Just misguided.”
If she’d threatened an infant and a young girl, she was more than misguided. But this wasn’t the time or place to mention that distinction. So Sam placed his hat on his head and took his leave, returning to his truck to find Patience Wilkerson.
Where would a young woman go who was desperate, alone and at odds with her family? A woman with no money to her name?
His jaw clenched tight as he withdrew his phone and dialed a number. He knew someone who would have some ideas. Another woman who’d been in that same position once.
Amy.
Then again, maybe he just needed to hear her voice and know she was safe. He had a cop watching over his son and Bailey McCord. But Amy was working at her house on top of that remote hill, probably all by herself.
“Hello?” Her voice soothed some of the agitation inside him.
She was safe. In the background of the call, he couldhear a loud mechanical whine suddenly quieting—a power tool being shut off.
“Amy, it’s Sam.” He wanted to see her. Wanted to speak with her about more than just this damned investigation that had taken over his life. “Are you by yourself right now?”
It took her a moment to answer.
“Yes. Why?” There was a guardedness in her voice. A caution he’d put there, damn it.
Flooring the gas, he shoved the blue police light onto the dashboard for safety’s sake. His gut told him Patience Wilkerson was on the move, and Amy was the most vulnerable of Covington’s potential enemies.
“Covington has a girlfriend intimidating witnesses for him. I don’t want you alone up there.” He exited the highway and wound through Heartache. He avoided Main Street since it was slower than taking the road past the Hastings’ house toward Partridge Hill.
“What girlfriend? You mean Tiffany McCord?” She sounded hoarse, and he found himself wondering if he was the first person she’d spoken to all day.
It occurred to him that as much as he admired her independence, it was also sad that she’d lived for so long away from any help or support. Would she even be willing to let him in her life if he could convince her he cared about more than just her testimony?
“No. Patience Wilkerson. You met her older sister at Erin’s consignment shop.”
