CHAPTER 40
Naomi’s mind raced.
If Good Boy was in Cooperstown—if this Gary Lee Foster had taken him there—then maybe she could find him.
“I want to go with you,” she announced. “To find Good Boy.”
Micah’s jaw tightened. “Naomi?—”
“Good Boy is out there somewhere, Micah. With someone who lied to get him. With someone who most likely had an agenda.” Her voice rose with urgency. “We can’t just leave him.”
“I’m not leaving him. I’m going to handle this. But you’re not coming with me.”
“Why not?” Naomi realized she sounded wounded as she asked the question. But she hadn’t expected Micah to be so adamant.
“Because I don’t know what I’m walking into, and I’m not bringing you into a situation that could be dangerous.”
Naomi opened her mouth to argue, but Micah cut her off.
“I’ll go to the address and check it out. If the dog’s there, I’ll bring him back.” His expression softened slightly. “But you stay here. With Grace. Where it’s safe.”
Naomi wanted to push back. Wanted to insist that she could help, that she had a right to be there.
But the look on Micah’s face told her he wouldn’t budge.
“Fine,” she finally said. “When are you going?”
“Now. As soon as I?—”
His radio crackled to life, cutting him off. “All units, we have a 10-50 on Route 9, near Mile Marker 14. Multiple vehicles involved. Possible injuries. Requesting all available units to respond.”
Micah’s expression shifted, and he grabbed the radio from his belt. “This is Sheriff Sutherland. I’m ten minutes out.”
Naomi’s gut tightened as she listened.
He looked back at Naomi, not bothering to hide his frustration. “Listen, I’m sorry. But I have to go do this first.”
“I know . . .” She tried to hide her disappointment and frustration, but she knew she failed.
“You stay here. I’ll check on the dog as soon as I can.” Micah hesitated, like he wanted to say something else. Instead, he pushed open the door and stepped out.
Naomi unbuckled Grace’s car seat and climbed out after him, hooking the carrier on her arm.
Micah paused in front of her. “I mean it, Naomi. Stay here. Don’t do anything until I get back.”
“I heard you.”
He held her gaze a beat longer then nodded and climbed back into his SUV.
A moment later, he was gone.
Naomi stood there, watching him disappear around the curve.
Her mind already raced ahead to Cooperstown. To the address Micah had read off his phone. To Good Boy, wherever he was.
Thirty miles. Less than an hour’s drive.
She could go. She could find him. She could bring Good Boy back before Micah even finished with the accident scene.
