Luke nodded. “He had a black truck. That’s all I remember. I didn’t look back.”
“You did the only right thing,” Finn said softly. “You got away, got help. That’s what your mom wanted for you.”
Dex walked over, tablet in hand. “I’m already pulling license data and gas station surveillance. Caleb will bring me back to command central. I want to track every feed between here and the next streets down. If the truck passed a camera, I’ll find it.”
“Good.”
“We’ll get her back, Finn,” said Dex, looking between Finn and Luke. “You need to get him somewhere safe.”
Finn nodded. “I’ll call Lainey’s mom.”
“She’ll panic,” Caleb said quietly.
“I know,” Finn muttered. “But not telling her feels worse.”
Before he could decide, another truck pulled up. Dani jumped out, followed by Ryker.
Luke looked over. “Jack’s mom!”
Dani rushed over. “We heard what happened,” she said. “Let me take him.”
“Are you sure?” Finn was torn. He really didn’t want to call Lainey’s mom until they had more information or had her back.
“Yes, of course. He and Jack are friends. He knows us. Ryker can provide security. We’ll keep him safe, I promise.”
Luke looked up at Finn, his face still pale. “Can I go with them, please?”
Finn crouched down. “Yes. But you need to know that I’m going to get your mom back.”
“I know you will. I trust you,” said Luke.
Finn kissed the top of his head, then helped him into Ryker’s truck and into the booster seat in back. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
Finn closed the door. “Keep him close,” he told Dani.
“You know we will.”
He watched the truck pull away, then turned back to Caleb and Dex.
“Let’s go find her.”
Lainey staredout the passenger window, her stomach tightening with every mile as Travis drove back toward Haywood Lake. She prayed with all her heart that Finn found Luke. That he was safe.
Travis turned into an industrial park that had seen better days. She’d never been in this part of town before. The buildings were worn, weeds taking over the area. Chain-link fences sagged under their own weight. There were no signs. No logos. Just long rows of warehouses with boarded windows that all looked the same.
There was also no traffic in the area. No people walking around. No one to hear her scream or help her.
Crap.
He pulled into a narrow alley between two buildings, then veered into a wide lot behind one of them. The warehouse wasold, the concrete stained with time. The windows were dark and covered in grime. One loading dock door was half open.
Lainey’s pulse thundered in her ears. Her throat went dry. Whatever, wherever this place was didn’t feel like a stopover. It felt final.
He threw the truck into park and turned toward her. “This is your final destination. Get out.”
She didn’t move.
