The door to Bloom suddenly opened and Deputy Cox walked in, in full uniform.
“What are you doing here?” Joel growled, past the point of calm.
“A neighbor called.” His brows pulled together as he scanned the shop. “Reported seeing Polly forced outside by Jonah Goodwill.”
Blood drained from Joel’s face. “What?”
Cox held up his hands. “We’ve put a BOLO out on his car. We’re looking for her. I’m just here to check the scene.”
No. It wasn’t enough.
He pulled out his phone and called Olivia Mack.
She answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Olivia. This is Joel Dawson. Do you know where Jonah Goodwill is?”
“Um, no. We had a fight about Polly about an hour ago, and he stormed out saying something about fixing it. Why? Is something wrong?”
“Polly’s missing.”
Olivia gasped. “No.”
“Yes. And a neighbor reported your husband dragging her out of her shop.”
“He wouldn’t do that?—”
“According to a witness, he did. So if you have any idea where he might have taken her, you need to tell me.”
“I-I’m sorry.” Her voice broke. “I don’t know.”
Dammit.
He hung up and turned to Ryan. “She doesn’t know.”
“We’ll organize the team, search his house and the forest. We’ll find her.”
Air hissed through his teeth. The forest was huge. And five minutes too late could mean?—
“Joel.” Ryan gripped his shoulder. “We’re good at what we do. And we’re not stopping until we have her. Got it?”
He nodded, even though there wasn’t a single part of him thathadanything. Confidence. Sanity. It was all gone.
Cox tilted his head toward the door. “Come on. I’ll go with you to search his home.”
Ryan headed to base, where the guys would meet him, while Joel followed Cox to Jonah’s house.
The drive wasn’t long, but every second felt like ten. It was torture. All he could think was that she was out there, alone with a killer…and he couldn’t protect her.
When they reached Jonah’s ranch-style home, Ward also pulled up with another deputy.
Cox dipped his head at Ward when he was out of the vehicle. “Thanks for coming, Sheriff.”
Ward looked at Joel. “What are you doing here?”
The fuck kind of a question was that?
Cox got in before he could. “I told him he could come.”
