“Yeah, I’m with him now.”
“Good. Josiah just texted. He’s looking, but he hasn’t seen her. Neither has Z.”
A voice came on over Garrett’s radio. “Squad seven, this is squad four.”
“Go ahead, squad four,” Garrett answered.
“I gotta go,” I said to Luke. “I’ll call you back.”
“I’ve got your silver Honda CRV. Ran the plates. It’s registered to Penelope Fallbrook. But unless Penelope is an adult male, she’s not driving the vehicle.”
“What’s your location?” Garrett asked.
I shifted my weight onto the balls of my feet, ready to move, my heart racing.
“Highway two, just north of milepost ninety-nine.”
Garrett met my eyes and nodded to his car. I ran around to the passenger side and got in.
“Squad four, I’m on my way to your location,” Garrett said as he got into the driver’s seat. “Go ahead and make contact with the driver.”
“Ten-four, squad seven,” the other deputy said. “Dispatch, put me out at a traffic stop, highway two, north of milepost ninety-nine. Possible stolen vehicle belonging to a missing person.”
Garrett sped out of the parking lot and headed for the highway. Milepost ninety-nine was just north of town. We weren’t far.
But who the fuck was driving Pen’s car? And where was she?
The radio chatter continued as the other deputy talked to dispatch. Then a few moments of silence. Garrett kept driving.
“Squad seven, this is squad four.”
“Go ahead, squad four,” Garrett said.
“Driver claims he’s Ms. Fallbrook’s friend and borrowed her car with permission.”
“Well, that’s bullshit,” Garrett said. “Who is he?”
“ID says Curt Redfern. Tilikum address.”
Garrett glanced at me. “Do you know who that is?”
My voice was strangely calm. “Friend of Gina Morris.”
“Fuck,” Garrett said under his breath, then keyed his mic again. “Squad four, don’t let him leave.”
“Copy that, squad seven.”
I still didn’t know what was going on, but it wasn’t good. The thought of something happening to Penelope made my blood run hot with rage. If anyone so much as touched her, I’d kill them.
The lights of the other deputy’s car lit up the road as we approached. Garrett pulled over. “Stay here.”
“No—”
“Just wait.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
He stopped arguing.
