His front door was open, and Grandmother was already starting to get out of the truck.
“Stay here. Lock the doors. I’m not sure if he’s in there or not.”
She nodded and closed her door. Chay radioed in that there was a break-in at his house and signs that someone else had been there. Palming his weapon, he got out of the truck. Moving carefully toward the house.
He avoided the tracks in the snow, knowing that he’d want to examine them later. Moving slowly and keeping low in case Daniel was already in the house…but the tire tracks made him believe that he wasn’t. He had to confirm it, though.
On the front porch he knelt noticing some blood on the floor and some strands of dark reddiths hair.Ava.
He pushed the door open with his foot and swept the room with his weapon. It was clear. He moved farther into the house, hearing the sound of the baby crying. He wanted to rush to her but took his time, clearing the hallway and the bathroom before he got to her room.
Lying on her back, Gracie was crying for all she was worth. Arms and legs kicking, little face all squished up as she cried. He went to comfort her, using one hand to rub her belly as he talked to her.
“It’s okay. I’m here now.”
He left the baby in her crib to finish his sweep of the house, confirming it was empty. Holstering his weapon, he went back to Gracie and picked the little one up.
Still upset, she calmed when he hugged her to his chest. Ava was gone. Chay’s heart was beating so hard that he had to takea moment to calm himself. Gracie’s little hand on his shoulder helped him.
Looking into her brown eyes, he saw the future that he’d been afraid to take slipping away.
Pushing that to the back of his mind, he went out to his truck, giving Gracie to his grandmother while he radioed in what he’d found. Wes was dispatching some officers to come help with the search. His grandmother was in the house now with Gracie, making coffee for the men who’d arrive soon to help.
His radio in the house was crackling and he went to answer it. Ryan, Ava’s brother, was trying to get through to her.
“Ryan, it’s Chay.”
“Daniel Wayne is out of jail,” Ryan said. “You have to let Ava know.”
“She knows. He has her. I’m going to find her and bring her back.”
“Where is she?”
“I’m not sure. He took her. I’m starting the search now,” Chay said.
“Do you need some extra men?”
“Maybe later—right now I have the tribal police and Dark Canyon PD.”
Ryan promised he’d talk to their parents. “Mom and Dad are going to want to come out there.”
“You can stay at my place. My grandmother and Gracie are here.”
He ended the chat and went out to the front yard where the tracks were. This time he studied them in more detail. Daniel was lighter of step going toward the house than he was coming back, which fit, since there was only one set of prints leaving. He must have knocked Ava out.
On foot he walked to the end of the drive. Since only his car had come in and out so far, he noticed the direction that Daniel Wayne had gone.
Chapter 22
Ava came to in a panic. She was cold and her head hurt. Blinking quickly, she tried to take in as much as she could, but her vision was blurry. Opening her eyes she noticed that her feet were bound and her hands were tied in front of her body. She wiggled her fingers, which were numb.
Turning her head, she winced as needles of pain shot down her neck. It looked like they were in a long-abandoned shack or cabin of some kind. There was a small gas heater in one corner but not much else. The door opened, and she quickly closed her eyes as cold air wrapped around her and made her shiver.
No matter that she’d studied this type of behavior to get her degree, she couldn’t be rational when it came to dealing with Daniel. Yet she had to be. Think of him as a patient.
Which was hard when she was in pain, scared and cold.
“I know you’re awake, so stop pretending to sleep.”
