“No, there’s nothing.” She paused. “Wait. On the fridge, there’s a magnet that says Three Bears Cabin Rentals. Do you think that’s the name of this place?”
“It could be. We’ll look into it.”
“I wish I could tell you more. I just . . . I’m afraid he’s going to find me. I’m so scared, Max.”
His heart pounded harder. “It’s okay. You’re safe right now. That’s what matters. You’re doing great.”
Sheriff Sutherland pulled the SUV onto the shoulder and put it in Park, already working his phone.
Max wanted to keep Lyndee talking, keep her calm until they located her. “You’re not hurt, are you?”
“Not really. I mean, I have some bruises. But I’m okay.”
“You did the right thing by running,” he said. “You got away. Just stay where you are and keep the doors locked. See if you can find some kind of weapon to use, just in case. We’ll find you.”
Sheriff Sutherland’s fingers scrambled over the screen, his attention locked in. Then he muttered, “Got it.”
The engine roared as he pulled back onto the road.
“Lyndee, we’ve got your location,” Max said. “Just hang on a little longer, okay?”
“I’m trying,” she whispered.
Max tightened his grip on the phone, his pulse steady but driving harder now.
They were close.
They had to be.
And this time, they weren’t going to lose her.
Hadley shifted in her chair and pressed a hand against her stomach as another wave of queasiness rolled through her.
She closed her eyes and let out a slow breath, waiting for the feeling to pass.
Stress. That had to be it.
The past couple of days had been one thing after another. It wasn’t surprising her body was starting to react. She’d often been sick to her stomach after she’d learned about Ethan’s affair. It was just the way her body handled things.
She straightened and reached for her coffee. But after a small sip, she set it back down. The thought of finishing it didn’t sit well.
She still had calls to make. Still had emails to answer. Still had too much to do to justify leaving early. She just needed to buckle down.
She pulled her laptop closer and clicked into her inbox, scanning the unread messages.
Most were exactly what she expected—clients responding to her earlier calls, confirmations for rescheduled appointments, a few billing questions. Normal things. Manageable things.
For a moment, the familiarity helped steady her.
Then her cursor stilled.
One email sat near the top of the list from an address she didn’t recognize: Doglover360. The subject line read: Urgent. Read ASAP.
Hadley frowned and clicked on it.
Do you even know who your boyfriend is?
Her stomach tightened, sharper this time.
