“Who are you talking about?”
“Anne.Katie’s friend Shania works for the Wells Fargo bank.It was a long shot, but we asked her to look through their database.Anne has an account with them.All we had to do was follow her credit card transactions to see where she’d gone.”
“You traced Anne using her bank statements?”
Ethan sat forward, listening intently to what Theo was saying.
“It wasn’t difficult.Shania does it all the time as part of her job.”
“She could get fired.”
There was a moment’s silence on the other end of the phone.“She was careful.”
Theo hoped so.He’d already put one person’s life in jeopardy by publishing the story.“Hang on.Ethan’s with me.I’ll put you on speakerphone.Okay.He can hear what you’re saying now.”
“I take it you’ve found Anne?”Ethan asked Barbara.
“Not me exactly, but Katie’s friend Shania did.A few days ago, Anne booked a ticket to Kalispell.There’s another payment for the Outlook Inn Bed and Breakfast in Somers.”
Theo’s gaze shot to Ethan.He seemed just as shocked as he was.“Why would she come to Montana?”
“You’re probably the only person she trusts,” Barbara said.“As soon as the mayor took the defamation case against you, she would have known her life was about to get difficult.”
Theo threw his water bottle into his backpack and stood up.“Do you know if she’s still at the Bed and Breakfast?”
“I called them, but they wouldn’t tell me.”
Theo glanced at Ethan.He was already on his feet.“I’ll be home in an hour.It won’t take long to drive there.”
“Don’t run all the way home,” Barbara said quickly.“Diana’s on her way to collect you from the picnic area halfway down the mountain.”
With Ethan beside him, he jogged down the trail.“Is there anything you haven’t organized?”
“Lots, but that’s why I have sisters.”
“Tell her about McGibbons’ call,” Ethan said.
“He called you?”
Theo’s fingers tightened around the phone.“He knows we’re looking for Anne.It’s important we get hold of her and tell her to be careful.If Katie’s friend was able to find her, he could too.”
“Leave it with me.I’ll see you when you get back to town.”
Fifteen minutes later, Diana picked them up.
As they passed the general store, he thought of Mabel.If she knew what was happening, the community Facebook page would be buzzing.He’d be painted as the investigative journalist turned detective.Adding a missing accountant and an eye-watering amount of money into the story would make it even more interesting.
Diana turned into his street.“Barbara’s waiting for you at the inn.She said you can’t go to Somers without her.”
Theo looked across the cab.“It’s too dangerous.”
“There’s no point arguing.She’s already packed an overnight bag.”
“I don’t care what she’s done.If McGibbons is there it could get ugly.”As soon as Diana stopped in front of his house, he threw off his seatbelt and opened his door.“I’ll take my own truck.Tell Barbara I’ll call her as soon as I find Anne.”
Ethan tapped him on the shoulder.“You can tell her yourself.”
Theo frowned, then followed his friend’s gaze.Barbara was standing on his front veranda with two bags beside her.“She can’t come.”
