Chapter Thirty-Three
“Mornin’, Boss.”
“Good morning.”
“Hey.”
Reese followed Brantley and Tesha inside the barn, Brantley rattling off polite responses to those who were greeting them.
After leaving JJ’s, Reese’s mind had been running nonstop in an attempt to figure out how to find Kylie.Ever since that brief conversation with Allison, he was filled with a sense of urgency.Something in her tone had triggered it, and it wasn’t lessening as the day progressed.
His conversation with his brother hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped.Rather than telling him that they’d identified someone based on the DNA, Z had informed him they were having difficulty with the sample they’d provided.He claimed he had someone doing another test to see if they could get any identifying markers, but that could take time.
They didn’t have time.
He couldn’t help but put himself in Kylie’s shoes, trying to imagine what the past two years had been like for her.He had some experience with being held against his will, confined with only his basic needs being met.He hoped like hell that wasn’t what Kylie was going through.
And yes, he’d taken a page from Brantley’s book and was now jumping on the Kylie-is-alive bandwagon with both feet.He knew it was premature, but he couldn’t help himself.And definitely not after seeing Travis that morning.The man had done a complete turnaround from the last time he’d seen him.It was possible he actually smiled a time or two over breakfast.
How could Reese not believe?
He only hoped they weren’t in for a huge disappointment.Losing her once had been painful.Twice would be … unthinkable.
“What’s everyone workin’ on?”Brantley asked.
Reese looked from one face to the next.Evan, Becs, Atticus, Archer, Jay, Charlie, Holly, Elana, and Darius.They were all there, all sitting at their desks, laptops in front of them.He couldn’t remember the last time he’d come in there, and they’d all been diligently working.Usually, at least two people were making casual small talk.
Not today.
It was as though they knew the clock was running out.
Was it?That was the question Reese couldn’t answer.If Kylie was alive and Martin Calloway was keeping her somewhere, what were his plans for her?He had a reason, clearly.Was he looking to punish Max or Travis for Juliet’s death?Or was there something bigger at play?
“JJ was able to get me into the traffic cameras in Blanco,” Holly answered.“It’s a long shot, but I thought I could see what’s goin’ on down there.I mean, I doubt Kylie’s walkin’ around, but you never know.”
Based on the chains and cuffs they’d found in that house, Reese had a pretty good idea how she was spending her time, and it wasn’t window shopping in a small town.
“I’m working with Austin Trexler on getting a drone for the area,” Charlie announced.
“I’m getting more info on the list of Censorious members that Simon put together,” Jay said.
“How many so far?”Reese inquired.
“Ninety-three.”Jay sighed.“And that’s just the big dogs.We haven’t even gotten to the soldiers yet.”
Reese had a feeling that list was going to get much, much longer.
“I’m tracing Meredith’s steps after she left Coyote Ridge,” Becs stated.“We think she’s hidin’ something, but we don’t know what.Thought maybe this would help.”
“It won’t,” Brantley told her.“I appreciate the effort, but Meredith’s actions are the least of my worries.I think she’s simply a pawn in this game.She might’ve been important to Calloway at one time, but I don’t think that’s the case anymore.”
Becs turned to face him.“Is there somethin’ you’d like me to focus on?”
“Allison Bogart,” he answered.
“I’ve got some information compiled,” Charlie told Becs.
“I’m mostly interested in her recent activity,” Brantley added.“Where has she been for the past six months?”
