He managed a nod, but could find no words as his throat was clogged with fear.
Cubby arrived first with Buster and Newman in his cruiser.
“What the fuck is going on?” Buster snarled. “This town is a peaceful place, and we had that shit with Bran and now Belle. I’m going to kill someone.”
“Get in fucking line,” Ethan snarled.
“Jake, start talking,” Cubby said calmly. “You”—he pointed at Ethan—“sit before you fall down.”
They listened as Jake gave the facts, brief though they were.
“My deputies are checking the Smith place now, and will arrive here soon,” Cubby said.
Ethan sat and listened, sipping the coffee Branna had put in his hand. She was now standing behind him. The hand she placed on his shoulder shook. These were the people she loved too.
“Nobody’s left town this morning. Maggie at the store said she’s been up since three and has a view of the road, and no one’s been in or out,” Cubby said.
“Annabelle called me at one forty-five, so unless they got her in the hour between, they’re still in Howling,” Ethan said, forcing himself to speak slowly, then to breathe in and out.
“No one in Howling will have that kind of money in their houses that I know of,” Newman said, his face serious as he paced the room. “Do you know someone who can fly it in for you, Tex?”
It was agony not to be able to reach her. This love shit made everything a million times worse, and the thought that he might not see her again just about had him blacking out.
“Ethan, keep it together,” Jake said. “We’ll get her back. They have to still be in the area, and Cubby has someone watching the road for any cars leaving.”
“A camper van came in early yesterday, about five a.m., and the driver went into The Roar. I went in there at six for a coffee. Betty was working, and she told me he asked a lot of questions, so we know what he’s driving and have a good description of him, if this is our man,” the deputy said. “The van hasn’t left, and if it tries to I’ll be notified.”
“I thought you were checking all incoming vehicles,” Ethan snarled.
“Was, but this one slipped by because it arrived early, and the guy seemed like a genuine tourist.”
“But now we know he’s not.” Ethan felt the leash on his temper slip.
“I understand where you’re coming from there, Tex, but it’s not helping Annabelle none,” Cubby said in a calm voice that made Ethan want to punch him.
“I just spoke with your dad. He said there are a couple of locals who don’t believe in banks. Macy has a safe with money in it, as does Walt Heath. He says he’ll start with them, and get to us with what he can ASAP,” Branna said.
“I’ve got some,” Buster said.
“Me too,” Newman said.
“Okay, so between us we can probably come up with the money,” Jake said, and Ethan was humbled that these people were not hesitating to use their money.
“Every cent will be paid back, I promise.”
“Settle, Tex. We know that, and if we didn’t, we’d still be doing it,” Buster said.
Cubby’s phone rang as Jake rolled a map out on the table and they all moved to gather around it.
Ethan thought again about just walking out of the house himself and starting a search. He needed to do something to get to Annabelle, anything. Standing here made him feel helpless.
“Jeb’s just radioed in and said that his brother and a friend were tramping on the north trails. He thought he saw signs of life in the old Lever place about thirty minutes ago.”
Ethan made himself focus as Cubby put his phone back in his pocket. “Where’s that?” he demanded.
“Here.” Jake stabbed a finger at the map. “It’s about a thirty-minute walk in.”
“Are there many places like that out there?” Ethan asked.
