Josie wasn’t sure what she’d expected the connection between Turner and Trinity to be, but she’d never imagined this. No wonder her sister hadn’t told her the truth. It would have meant exposing the woman Turner was trying to keep safe—and her child. Each time Josie had asked Turner about his relationship with her sister, he’d deflected, implying the story was Trinity’s to tell, knowing that she would never betray his confidence.
Tapping Trinity for help so that he could help Zara start over, free from her stalker, reinforced the lengths he’d been willing to go to for the woman.
“Do you still keep in touch with Zara?” Josie asked carefully.
His eyes snapped to hers. A sneer curled his lips. “What are you really asking me, Quinn?”
“I’m asking you if you still keep in touch with this woman.”
“You asked me who I pissed off. I told you. Dustin Emmer.”
“Turner, are you still in contact with Zara?”
“What do you think?”
“You do realize that I do this shit for a living, too, right? I know these techniques. Instead of answering my question, youask your own. It buys time and deflects. We don’t have time, so whatever it is you’re getting defensive about, you need to put it aside and tell me what I need to know.”
“Fine,” he huffed. “Yeah, I check on her twice a year, okay?”
“I’ll need her full name and address so we can do a welfare check on her and her daughter.”
“No.”
She raised a brow. “A mother and a daughter were just killed at the Balloons and Tunes Festival. A mother and a daughter were just abducted. Tell me you see the pattern here.”
“You don’t need a welfare check. I can just call her right now.”
“I’d still like to get eyes on her, Turner.”
“If Emmer has my family, he doesn’t have Zara.”
“When is the last time you spoke to or saw her?”
“Check the call log. A month, maybe, but she doesn’t live in Denton and if I can’t get hold of her and you call the PD where she lives for them to go to her house, she’s going to get scared. I don’t really like the idea of anyone else knowing her real identity, even local police. If Emmer’s not behind what’s happening here, then he’ll still be a threat to her.”
“What’s her address?”
“Quinn, do you hear what I’m saying?”
She handed him his phone. “Call her.”
With shaking hands, he found her contact and punched the call icon.
“Speaker,” Josie instructed.
Shooting her a murderous look, he put the phone on speaker and rested it on his leg.
With each ring, Turner’s hands trembled a little more. Finally, a woman’s sleepy voice answered. “Kyle? Is everything okay?”
“Hey, Z,” he said. “Uh, yeah, everything’s fine.”
“You’re calling so late. That means everything is not fine.” Her tone was sharper now, more alert. “Tell me what’s going on.”
He met Josie’s eyes briefly. “How’s Penny? She okay?”
“She’s fine. Kyle, you’re freaking me out. Is it him?”
“Oh, no,” he said. “I don’t—I mean?—”
