It didn’t.
Through the window, red and blue lights strobed across the snow, painting the night in sharp flashes. EMTs worked over Deputy Vaughn just beyond the kennel, their movements efficient and practiced.
The man still hadn’t regained consciousness.
Max stood at the edge of the room, his arms braced on the counter as he stared out at the scene. He forced himself to think past the noise in his head.
He and Caleb had pulled the security footage.
There was no question that Kendra had done this.
She’d come in through the public side of the kennel, with her hood concealing her face. She’d known exactly where to go, exactly where Hadley would be.
The footage cut out at just the wrong angle, but there was no mistaking her.
And now Hadley was gone.
Sheriff Sutherland stepped into the room. “Still no sign of Kenny.”
Max nodded once, though his thoughts were already moving ahead. “You think they’re working together?”
“It’s possible,” Sheriff Sutherland said. “Or it’s coincidence.”
Max didn’t believe in coincidence. Not anymore.
Sheriff Sutherland straightened and dragged a hand over the back of his neck. “Either way, we don’t have time to chase both. We need to focus.”
“Agreed.”
The sheriff studied him. “You’ve got something?”
“Not yet.” Max reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “But I’m about to.”
Sheriff Sutherland’s brows lifted. “You’re calling Kendra?”
Max didn’t answer. He was already scrolling, already hitting the number.
He put it on Speaker so everyone could hear.
The line rang once. Twice. Three times.
He almost expected it to go to voicemail.
Then a click sounded. The faint, controlled sound of breathing stretched across the line.
“Kendra,” Max murmured.
For a second, she didn’t respond.
Then her voice came through, soft and steady. “Hey, Max.”
She sounded normal, like they were having a casual conversation.
That realization made something cold slide down his spine. “Where are you?”
“Why do you ask?”
His grip tightened on the phone. “Don’t do this, Kendra. You know why I’m asking.”
