From his peripheral, Eric could see Derek’s head moving back and forth between them.
Ah, hell.
“Wait...you guys are...well, hot damn!” His brother exclaimed loudly. “It’s about time you two—”
“Not another word, D,” Eric warned his brother.
“Wasn’t gonna say a thing.”
Right.
“Any other turns coming up I should know about?” he quickly changed the subject.
It was bad enough Riley was scared out of her mind for Maggie. She didn’t need to deal with his smartass of a brother making her feel uncomfortable about their budding relationship.
“There’s a gravel road on your right, about a half a mile away. You’re gonna go about two clicks down that road, and we’ll be there.”
“Hurry, Eric.” Riley’s knee bounced up and down with vigor. “If we don’t find her...”
“We will,” he vowed. He just prayed it would be in time.
Though Eric didn’t voice his concern aloud, part of him was terrified they would find Maggie. But only because he was afraid ofwhatthey’d see once they got there.
Spotting the gravel road up ahead, Eric flipped on his signal so the others would know to start slowing down.
Taking the turn as fast as he could without flipping the damn car, Eric ignored the cloud of dust and gravel peppering the car behind him and pushed the gas as far as it would go.
Though it was a risk, he decided not to go with lights and sirens in hopes that, if the bastard was still there, they could somehow manage to sneak up on him.
He’s not going to be there.
No, he probably wasn’t. Chances were, he’d done whatever it is he intended to do with Maggie and flew. It was the ‘whatever’ that had him, and every other person racing to get to her, worried.
“There!” Derek pointed at something through the windshield. “That’s where he was when he called.
It took Eric a second to make out the old, abandoned farmhouse sitting by itself in the middle of nowhere.
“Makes sense that he would choose this place.” Riley studied the area. “Not a soul around for miles. Plenty of privacy to do what he needs without fear of having to rush or anyone hearing his victims screams.”
Her voice cracked on that last word, and Eric knew she was thinking about their friend. He was, too, but right now they needed to focus on doing the job.
“Push it down, York,” he ordered his partner firmly. “I need you with me on this.”
She looked over at him, the moonlight shining through the windshield making it possible for him to see the well of tears in her chocolate eyes.
Jesus, I’m an asshole.
“You’re right.” Riley cleared her throat and nodded.
For a second, Eric thought maybe he’d spoken the words aloud. But then she sat up a little straighter and turned to him, focused determination replacing her tears.
“What’s the plan?”
That’s my girl.
“D, you happen to find floor plans for the—”
“Two-story farmhouses built in Nineteen Eighteen,” Derek read his mind. “Thirteen hundred square feet, with a living room, kitchen, and half bath on the first floor. Three bedrooms upstairs and a small crawlspace to access the roof.”
