“This is Noah Harris, Melanie, I’m close with Lani.”
“Are you her Noah?”
“What?”
“She mentioned you, said you were a nice guy. Are you that guy?”
Lani had talked about him. The thought was a good one but did nothing to ease the panic inside him.
“I am, and I love her.” It felt right to say it, so he did. “I need to find her, Melanie.”
“Mel, and I hope you are a good guy or I’m hurting you.”
“I’d deserved it if I did. I read the letter she left in case he got her.” Noah couldn’t say, killed. “This guy, her ex, he’s still looking for her, right?”
“He is, and won’t stop because he wants her money and walks just this side of insanity, but there’s something else you don’t know.”
Noah wasn’t sure he could take more.
“She attacked the asshole the same night he told her he was keeping her in the room until she changed the will and married him.”
“What did he do to her?” It came as a low growl.
“He tried to rape her, but Nutty used her comb on his face and now he has a scar, and that’s why this is about more than just money. He was handsome and vain. He blames her for ruining his looks and told me he wouldn’t stop until she was dead.”
“Nutty?” Katie asked.
“Her love of peanut butter,” Noah and Mel said at the same time.
“A local paper ran a picture of her. She took a call and said it was you, but I think it was him,” Katie said.
“He’s got contacts for sure,” Mel said. “He’s never stopped looking for her and if he saw the paper he’d have headed to your town immediately.”
“Got a sighting of her Bronco,” Cubby said. “Let’s go! Tex, put the helicopter up and head to Watling Lake. The sighting was on Johnson Hill, which comes down into there.”
“Buster can be my eyes,” Tex said. “Let’s go, Baker Boy.”
“I just wanted a peaceful walk in the night air.” Buster sighed, following the Texan from the room.
“Find her, Noah, and bring her back, and if you happen to get rid of that asshole, I won’t be upset,” Mel said before he cut the call.
“Right, let’s get your girl back.” Cubby armed himself and Katie, then threw a badge at Noah and handed him a gun. No shooting, leave that to me if necessary. This is for intimidation.”
He nodded, but he’d shoot if Lani was in danger. She was his now, and he wanted her back. Then he’d never let her go again.
“Pete from Brook was heading back from his brother’s place and saw the Bronco. He passed, then pulled off the road. He’s following, so we’ll get him on radio in the car. He said there are two people in the Bronco.”
Noah’s veins filled with ice.
“Let’s go, Buddy, we’re going to bring our girl home.” The dog had been pressed to his side since they’d entered the Lair.
“If he puts hair all over the place, you’re vacuuming,” Cubby said.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“Four years, Elaine. Four years of hating you and waiting. Four years of pretending you’d gone mad and run away. I talked to the press constantly, saying how worried I was for your state of mind since your parents died. No one will be surprised if you’re found dead. That bitch Melanie tried to speak out, but my voice holds more weight than yours.”
“You leave Mel alone!”
