Digging into the hard-packed soil, Theo pushed his screaming muscles hard.After months of relentless training, he was in better shape than most people he knew.But that wouldn’t win the race for him or his teammates.
Even with his lungs gasping for air, he moved faster, lengthening his stride, and eating up the distance between him and his friend.With one last, desperate lunge, he threw himself at the wooden seat at the top of the hill.
A second later, Ethan collapsed against the seat.“Lucky break.”
All Theo could do was grimace.
“You know we’re getting too old for this, don’t you?”
“How can you speak after”—Theo took another deep breath—“running for an hour.”
“Practice.”With his chin lifted to the sky, Ethan looked as though he was enjoying the cool morning air instead of recovering from a training session that was only half over.
Swinging his backpack off his shoulders, Theo reached for his water bottle.
From here, the view of the lake was spectacular.With its crystal-clear water and smooth surface, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
“Have you found the woman you’re looking for?”
“Not yet.She wasn’t at her family’s cabin.”
“It’s not easy to disappear.She must have had help.”
Usually, Theo would think his friend was overthinking what was happening, but not now.“Tony’s following another couple of leads.If that doesn’t work, I’ll fly to New York and speak to the other staff who worked with her.Someone must know where she is.”
“You’re asking for trouble if you go back.McGibbons wants revenge and he won’t stop until his name is cleared.”
“I don’t have a choice.”Theo’s cell phone rang.He was tempted to let it go to voicemail, but no one would be calling him this early unless it was important.He checked the caller display and frowned.“I need to get this.”He looked at Ethan as he put the call on speakerphone.“How did you get my number, McGibbons?”
Ethan’s eyebrows rose.
“It wasn’t difficult.I heard you’re looking for Anne.”
There was no way Theo would answer him.“Your lawyer should have told you not to contact me.”
“He told me a lot of things, including what you’re doing to prove I’m guilty.It won’t do any good.”
A burning feeling hit Theo’s stomach.“What have you done?”
“Nothing that concerns you.Stay away from Anne and anyone who knows her.”
“If you’ve harmed her in any way, I’ll—”
“Be careful,” McGibbons said with a sneer in his tone.“You never know who’s listening.”
Theo ended the call.He’d had enough of listening to the man he suspected of a lot more than tax evasion.
Gripping the phone tightly, he glanced at Ethan.“We have to find her.”
“I’ll go with you.I still have some contacts who might be able to help.”
“You don’t have to do—” His cell phone rang again.
“Is it McGibbons?”Ethan asked.
“Not this time.”Theo answered the call.“Hi, Barbara.”
“I’ve found her.Well, sort of found her.You’ll never guess where she is.”
