“You think she needs protection?” Jax stopped the car, even though the front end was now sticking out onto the lane between rows of recreational vehicles.
“Only in the general sense. Not that she’s specifically in danger.” Kenna called Zeyla, who picked up before the first ring.
“What’s wrong? Are you in labor?”
Kenna chuckled. “Not as far as I know, but the day is still young. Who knows, I might have this baby right in front of you, and you’ll have to help me through the whole thing. As the stalwart auntie available for anything we need.”
Silence was Zeyla’s response.
“Or you could go to the RV and hang with Maizie.”
“I can do that.” Zeyla sounded relieved, which only made Kenna laugh more.
“Thanks.” She hung up, then let the full volume of her amusement out. “That was funny.”
“I think you like freaking her out.”
“Not my fault she has a problem with bodily fluids. We all read the same pregnancy book.”
“She’s the only one who looked white as a sheet when she got to the birthing part.”
Kenna let out an audible sigh, releasing the last of the amusement. “Can’t wait to see her with diapers.”
“I’m glad you’re amused.”
“It beats being terrified.”
“Yes, it does.”
“I’m still terrified.”
He reached over and held her hand, driving with the other. “Me, too.”
It didn’t take long to get across town to where the police were waiting, sitting on a street corner near an older-looking strip mall. The car had been left parked alongside a dumpster off to the side that was overflowing with trash. The chain-link enclosure where it lived was propped open with a concrete block.
The nose of the car nearly touched the left side of the enclosure.
Kenna glanced around, getting a look at the scene, while Jax parked. The uniformed cops and Ryson were now over by the car. One officer had a flashlight, even though it was daytime, and was shining it in the driver’s window. Probably to try and see in the dark corners of the car.
“Want to stretch your legs?” Jax turned off the engine.
“Yes, thanks.” She shoved the door open and he was around the car in a second, holding out his hand. They met Ryson over by the vehicle. “Any sign something happened to him?”
Ryson gave her a side hug but addressed his officer. “What have we got?”
The guy stepped back, which didn’t give him much room between the door and the fence the dumpster backed up to. “His wallet is on the floor. Passenger’s side.”
Jax peered in that window. “Keys are still in the ignition.”
The officer looked down the lane, along the fence, behind the car, his gaze assessing. A breeze ruffled his hair and the collar of his police department uniform coat.
Kenna said, “You think he ran?”
The cop nodded to her and Ryson. “Yes, ma’am. I think something happened to him.” He looked at the ground and crouched. A second later, he said, “There’s a single shoe under the car.”
Ryson said, “Get some gloves and search the vehicle.”
The cop’s partner said, “Yes, Lieutenant,” but the words were eclipsed by a semitruck driving past on the street beside them.
