The call to Nancy went to voicemail, and Addy’s worry doubled as she shoved her phone into her pocket.
“In that case, it’s a professional editing job.” Warren frowned. “But I honestly think it’s legit.”
If Addy was on the verge of panicking before, the statement from an eighteen-year ICE veteran sent her over the top. “It’s time-stamped five minutes ago. Mom’s not answering the phone.”
“They used a sheet for the background, so if they did indeed film it at your house, they disguised the room.” Warren locked eyes with her. “Or it means it was Photoshopped.”
“I need to go home. Check on her and see—” A sob grabbed Addy’s voice, stealing it like a thief in the night, tearing away her last words.
Warren held her gaze, his normally calm powder-blue eyes darkened. “I’ll come with you.”
She nodded. She would be grateful for the backup, especially from an experienced ICE agent like Warren.
“I’ll drive.” He dug his keys from his pocket. “You’re in no state of mind to get behind the wheel.”
She thought to argue. Stand up for herself. A woman in law enforcement was often taken advantage of. Thought less of. But this wasn’t that. He was right. Her hands were trembling, her heart thudding.
“Let’s go,” she said, but before she bolted for the door, she grabbed an extra ammo clip and shoved it in her pocket before pulling her jacket from the back of the chair.
Outside, a biting January wind whipped in her face, and she slipped into her jacket as she ran down the street behind Warren toward the parking lot.
She ignored him opening his car and charged over to the vintage Mustang she’d inherited from her father. She popped the trunk of the cherry-red vehicle and dug into a black nylon bag holding her Kevlar vest and emergency supplies. She slidinto the vest and then joined Warren. He’d clicked open the locks on his nondescript sedan and was donning his vest too.
Seeing him dressed in tactical gear made the terror even more real. Her mother honestly was in danger, and they were heading to her house to rescue her.
Unbelievable. Totally unbelievable.
Addy breathed deep so she didn’t lose it and climbed into the passenger seat. She buckled her seat belt. Took three tries with shaking hands to get the clasp into place. She had to calm down before they arrived at the house. If her mother was indeed being held captive, Addy had to be thinking clearly.
Warren slid into the driver’s seat and started the car, the powerful engine roaring to life and vibrating the vehicle. He got his emergency light going and tore out of the lot, his hands steady on the wheel. Stalwart. A word she never used, except it somehow perfectly described him. He’d been like a father to her since she’d arrived back in Portland. At times smothering her with well-meaning advice, and other times leaving her alone. Right now she appreciated his help.
“Maybe I should call the local PD,” Addy said. “Get them out there faster.”
Warren gave a firm shake of his head. “First, you only live a few miles away and you don’t know they’ll arrive faster than us. And second, do you really want to risk some rookie rolling up on the scene and making a mistake that costs your mom her life?”
Her mother’s life. In the balance. Her whole body trembled.
A car whipped in front of them and cut them off. Warren slammed on the brakes, saving their lives but wasting valuable time. She pounded a fist on the dash. She should have driven. At least she would feel in control of something. Anything.
She dug out her phone to call the house again.
Ringing. Ringing. Ringing.
Please, dear God, let Mom be okay. Please. Please. Please.
Warren turned his inquisitive eyes on her. “The warning on the video. It has to do with the investigation you’re working on?”
“It’s not like the guy came out and said so, but yeah, I have to figure it does. He’s not Caucasian, and my chief suspect in this case is Hispanic.”
Warren careened the car around the corner. “You’ve worked this investigation for months. Why the threat now?”
“There’s something big. I mean likehugegoing down in six days. My suspect must have found out I got wind of his plans, and he wants me to back off.”
She let the video replay in her mind, trying to find any lead or clue. “Bear. He wasn’t barking.”
“Your dog?”
She nodded. “Mom can’t handle him so he’s crated during the day. But as a retired police dog, he would sense the danger and be jonesing to get out. At a minimum barking.”
