“More than one.”
“Good. I doubt you’ll need it. If they wanted her, they would’ve taken her. But keep it loaded, lock up the house and stay inside.”
“Where are you going?” Calli asks.
I look over at Arlow, and he nods his understanding as Iexplain. “To see Joshua. She wants him dead. He must know her.”
“Let’s go,” Arlow says.
Calli brings Lacey a coat, and they walk out to get in Arlow’s truck. “She took Silver’s truck,” Lacey says.
“I know. Stay inside and don’t call cops or anyone, do you understand?” Lacey nods and climbs in beside Calli. We follow them out of the parking lot and turn in opposite directions.
On the way to Joshua’s place, I call Justus, but it goes straight to voicemail. Landon picks up and explains that the rest of the In Safe Hands guys are on a plane, bound for a vacation they all take together. Landon missed the flight and is spending half the night at the airport. When I explain what’s happened, he tells me that he has his laptop and will be standing by if there’s anything he can do remotely. Other than that, Arlow and I are on our own.
Arlow and I discuss the best way to do this, and keeping calm is going to be my struggle. I’m terrified. My instinct is to put a gun in this guy’s face and demand answers. Arlow reminds me that he’s likely a victim in all this too, and if we can show him his life is at risk, we’ll get more cooperation. “Intimidate him but don’t just go in waving a gun,” he advises.
“Fine but he’s going to tell me what he knows.” Because fuck if I have any other way to get Silver back.
Arlow looks over at me when I park down the road from Joshua’s house. “Lee. Are you going to kill him?”
That’s a question I can’t answer right now. My silence isn’t the answer he wants.
His voice is calm and cautious. “Do you really think they’ll just let Silver go if you do? How long before you get another name to target?”
Logically, I know he’s right. But logic is a slippery thing to hold onto when someone you love is in danger. “What would you do if it were Calli?”
It’s his turn not to answer, but he doesn’t have to. The night I stumbled across him digging in his graveyard wasn’t that long ago. He finally nods. “I’ve got your back. Either way.”
“The letter left in the church is in my glove box. Grab it.”
“That should be convincing,” he says, and we move quietly toward the house.
We creep around, looking through a couple of windows. Joshua stands in a back bedroom, watching his kids play a video game and laughing with them. “Front door,” I murmur, and Arlow nods. The door’s locked but it’s only the handle, and I have no problem busting it. It doesn’t even make much noise.
We enter the small living room that’s strewn with little paper streamers and empty confetti shooters. A greasy pizza box sits on the coffee table with a few paper plates. Before we can decide how to approach him, we hear footsteps coming down the hall.
Joshua stops short when he sees us, the smile falling fromhis face. “What the fuck?” His eyes dart to the door where the broken knob dangles, then to the gun held down at my side.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” I warn, keeping my voice low.
He slowly holds up a hand. “Take whatever you want. My wallet’s on the kitchen table. I got kids here.”
“We don’t want money. Tell me about Trinity Davis.”
His brows dip in confusion. “I don’t know who that is. You have the wrong house.”
“You’re Joshua Haney.” The slight relief that showed in his body when he thought this was a mix- up is short lived.
He licks his lips and nods. “I am, but I don’t know any Trinity.”
Footsteps pound down the hallway and terror widens his eyes as his children run into the room. I tuck the gun behind me where they won’t see it as they enter.
“Daddy! I got second place!” the little girl shouts. Both children pause and stare at us.
“You have friends,” the little boy announces.
Joshua forces a smile. “Yes, my friends need to talk to me for a few minutes. Go back to your room and play.”
