Indy hadn’t been what he expected. In his head, she’d had multicoloured hair and several piercings, maybe even a very visible tattoo. He hadn’t pictured a petite, tidy librarian, which stunned him.
“Can I get you a drink to sweeten you up, Indy?” Drew had folded his arms and looked about ready to go into combat.
“Save your sugar for yourself, O’Malley.” She flashed him the most insincere smile Alex had ever seen. “I have news.”
“If you didn’t read your messages, how did you know where we were, Indiana?” Drew’s tone was dark.
Indy smiled and shook her head. “I found out that…”
“I want an answer. Because you turning up here isn’t coincidence. Let’s face it, this wasn’t a booty call.”
Indy spun around and looked at Drew, eyes on fire. “We moved past booty calls a long time ago.”
Alex looked over at Loneghan who shrugged.
“What did you find out, Indy?” Loneghan gave her an out. “I have to go in about ten minutes. Suit fitting for my sister’s wedding.”
Indy frowned. Alex did the same. Loneghan didn’t come across as the sort of person who had family or a life outside his job.
“What does Abby think happened to her sister?” Indy stayed focused on Alex.
“She doesn’t know.”
Indy nodded. “Thinks she might be alive but hopes she’s not in case something horrendous has been happening to her?”
“Pretty much.” Alex thought of Abby – he’d thought of her at least three times a minute since he’d left her making breakfast for the dogs this morning in his kitchen. “Do you know something?”
“I always know something.” She mirrored Drew’s pose and folded her arms.
“Always did. Even back in school.” Drew almost growled the words.
Alex turned to him and frowned. “You two knew each other in school?”
“Oh yeah,” Drew said. “She was a stuck-up know-it-all back then. Weren’t you, Bird Brain?”
Alex now sat back and prepared to watch the performance.
“Feel like I need popcorn here.” Loneghan pretty much summed it up. “But I’d also like to hear what you know about Matilda Wray, seeing as Drew’s place is too stuck up for popcorn.”
Drew didn’t disagree.
“I think she’s alive.”
The words sucked all the air from Alex’s lungs.
“Where’s your evidence?” Loneghan’s voice was quiet, his words almost gentle.
Alex realised his expression was telling exactly how he was feeling right now.
“As you all know, everyone has a National Health number. I did a little search and found that Tilly Hope has recently been seen in a hospital.” Indy’s words were matter-of-fact, completely belying the weight they carried.
“How do you know it wasn’t someone just using that number. We know these gangs are involved in human trafficking. It would make sense for them to use the number of someone who was here legally.” Loneghan again.
Drew nodded. “Common practice. Especially if you have a sympathetic doctor who’s looking for some extra income.”
Alex felt his back tense. It was something easy in Severton to forget that there was serious, deadly, shit going on outside of their small town where the worst event on a daily basis was one of Jake’s blasted alpacas escaping and eating someone’s hedge.
“I check the CCTV of the hospital. Tried out some new software I’ve been working on. It picked up a woman who looks like the photos I have of Matilda. It isn’t a hundred percent, but I wouldn’t rule out that she’s alive.” Indy’s gaze was focused on Alex, her eyes sympathetic.
