Alex did a double take. Mac must be a good influence on Gage. It wasn’t too long ago that he would have picked Alex up by the throat first and asked questions later.
Figuring he’d better take advantage of Gage’s good mood, Alex quickly explained why they’d broken into the research facility, saying that he’d not only picked up Kelsey’s scent, but also that of the man who’d dumped the dead dogs and Nicole Arend’s body.
“I got a whiff of fireball in there too,” Alex added. “I don’t think they were making it here, because the smell isn’t strong enough for that, but they were definitely storing it.”
Gage cursed and glanced at Curtis and McDonald, who were standing by the councilman’s car, talking. “A city councilman involved with drugs, dogfighting, and kidnapping. What the hell is going on here?”
All Alex could do was shrug.
“If you’re going to make a move on a man like McDonald, you’d better have some damn good evidence,” Gage said. “He’s as close to bulletproof as you’re going to see in this town.”
Alex couldn’t argue with that. “Now that we know McDonald is involved, it gives us a whole new direction to investigate. I just wish I knew how the hell McDonald’s people knew we were onto him. They bailed right before we got here, like they knew we were coming. No one knew about this lead but us.”
Gage’s mouth tightened. “That’s not true. Lacey knew. I overheard McDonald tell Curtis that’s how he found out you were here.”
Alex frowned. “That can’t be right. She’d never do something that would put her sister at risk.”
His boss shrugged. “All I know is that she told him. If you want to know why she did it, you’re going to have to ask her.”
The only reason he could think she’d tell McDonald was because she simply didn’t trust Alex to find her sister.
* * *
Lacey paced back and forth across the living room while Leo watched from the couch. She’d almost called Alex twice already but hadn’t wanted to bother him. She was close to giving in and finally picking up the phone when he walked in the door—alone.
Her heart seized in her chest at the grim expression on his face. “Oh God. What happened? Is it Kelsey? Please tell me she’s not…”
Alex shook his head. “She’s fine—at least I hope so. We found the place where she and the other girls were being held, but whoever kidnapped them moved them right before we got there.”
Tears stung Lacey’s eyes. Being so close and missing her by minutes was almost worse than not knowing where Kelsey was in the first place. “Why would they move them?”
A muscle in Alex’s jaw flexed. “Because they knew we were coming.”
“What do you mean they knew you were coming? How is that possible?”
“Because you told Councilman McDonald.”
She stared at him, even more confused now. “No, I didn’t.”
“According to him, you did.” Alex muttered a curse. “Dammit, Lacey, I told you to trust me.”
“I do trust you!” The disappointment in his eyes made her heart hurt. “McDonald’s lying. I haven’t talked to him since we saw him at the press conference. The only person I talked to after you left was Sheryl Elliott.” She gasped. “Oh God. She must have told him.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “Sheryl Elliott?”
Lacey nodded. “She called right after you left. She was so upset and desperate for someone to give her hope, so I told her that you might have found a connection between the doctor at the clinic and the kidnappings. She swore she wouldn’t tell anyone.”
Alex snorted. “Well, she told McDonald.”
Lacey felt like she was struggling in deep water. “I don’t understand. Why would he warn the kidnappers?”
“Because he’s involved,” Alex snapped. He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his dark hair, making it stick up. “The doctor we followed led us straight to a medical research facility owned by McDonald. I picked up Kelsey’s scent, so I know she was there.”
Lacey’s heart began to pound. “Was she…you know…”
“Alive?” He nodded. “She was when they took her out of there. Look, we don’t know what McDonald’s involvement is with this doctor and the girls, but he’s into it up to his neck. Unfortunately, the private security company the councilman pays to watch the place showed up a few minutes after we went in. They caught us, then McDonald walked in with the chief of police—and Gage. Brooks, Max, and I have been suspended.”
It felt like the floor had suddenly fallen out from under Lacey. This was all her fault. If something happened to Kelsey, she would never forgive herself. She hugged herself, wishing it was Alex’s arms around her.
