Ward, who wasn’t in uniform, rose from the front row and stepped beside Ryan. He looked short and round in comparison.
He lifted his hands. “Guys. Come on. I know Ryan and his team are new. But they’re trying. And so are my team. We’re here to protect you. You feel scared, need help? Call me.”
Ethan scowled.
Jay leaned in close, her voice low. “Who’s Tubs?”
“The county sheriff.”
“Huh. I pictured him taller. And maybe with a bit more hair on his head.”
“He’s just an obstacle.” But Ethan and his team did need to find the woman, and they needed to find her fast. It was his job, his responsibility, to protect the people of this town, and he didn’t take that lightly.
He turned to glance at Maggie again, but her gaze was already on him. Or maybe on Jay.
Her eyes flared. She offered him a small smile before turning to the front again.
What was going on with her?
20
The second the meeting ended, the community center filled with voices. It was like the entire town was speaking at once. Mostly to one another, but there was a crowd of people in front of Ferris and Ethan and his team.
Everyone was worried.
Maggie leaned over to Polly, needing to raise her voice to be heard. “Let’s wait outside.”
They wove through the center, but the main doors were busy and blocked, so Maggie tugged Polly toward the back doors.
“That was a mess,” Polly said as they stepped outside.
Cool air ran over Maggie’s cheeks. “It’s scary that all of this is happening in our small town.”
More people exited through the back door. None of them Ethan.
Polly yawned.
“Are you tired?” Maggie asked, noticing the dark circles under her eyes.
Polly lifted a shoulder. “I’ve been staying up late doing bookwork for Bloom. I think it’s catching up with me.”
“Go home.”
“No, I’ll wait for Ethan with you.”
“With that crowd around him, he’ll take ages. There are tons of people here. I’ll be safe.” More and more were filtering out the back, but no one seemed to be leaving. Everyone was talking about the new missing woman.
Polly yawned a second time. “Are you sure?”
“Go. Get some rest. I think Ethan is grabbing some food before going back to base and continuing his search, so I’ll say hi to him and come home after.” And she was going to meet the “friend.” Her belly gave a little swirl.
“Okay.” Polly pulled Maggie into a hug. “But I want to hear every detail about this mystery woman with the guys.”
It took more energy than it should have to not tense up. “I won’t leave anything out.”
It wasn’t until Polly walked away that Maggie let the mask slip and old insecurities crept to the surface.
No. She wasn’t going to do that. She was not going to let history repeat itself. This woman was obviously a military friend. That was it.
