“Jeff wasn’t supposed to be in the Jeep with her. I asked him to drive with her. She would have been all alone on the road.”
“The perfect spot for an ambush.”
“And when Ellie wasn’t alone, he had to take things further, to make sure he wasn’t caught.”
Michael’s eyes slid to meet mine. “Except Jeff didn’t die.”
“And if he can tell us anything, we’ll not only get to Ellie, but find out who’s been behind the attacks all along.”
He quirked an eyebrow at me. “It’s a stretch.”
“But not by much.”
“Michael?” Caroline said, walking out from behind the sliding doors. “You can see Jeff now.”
“I’m going with you.”
“Whoa, hold on a minute?—”
“Don’t even fucking think of stopping me,” I hissed. “I’ll stay out of your way, but I will be in that room.”
He glanced over his shoulder at his parents, then back to me. I knew I was taking liberties I didn’t have, but Ellie was missing. I wasn’t going to stand around and wait my turn when her life was on the line.
“Fine, but you stand there and stay quiet.”
With a jerky nod, I followed him back to Jeff’s room. A burst of energy rushed through me at the idea of finally getting some answers. I was crawling out of my skin, thinking of all the things Ellie might be going through. I didn’t want to think about what she was suffering right now, but pretending the worst hadn’t already happened would be foolish.
Jeff was laying upright in bed, his eyes blinking blearily as we walked into the room. “Mike,” he croaked, holding out his hand.
I did as he asked, staying further back, but I was itching for anything he had to say.
If he even remembered.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
“Ellie,” he croaked out. “She’s gone.”
“I know, man.”
“The guy…” He swallowed hard, coughing harshly as Michael rushed over to the table to grab some water.
Caroline came into the room, hurrying over to Jeff, grabbing a spare pillow out of a drawer. “Here. Hold this against your stomach when you cough.”
Jeff took it, but he already looked worn out.
I bit my thumbnail, trying to stay back, fighting the urge not to leap forward and demand he tell us everything he knew.
“Tall,” Jeff croaked out. “About six-two. Muscular. Dark hair.” He sucked in a breath, wincing as he pressed the pillow to his stomach. “Work boots.”
“Okay, that’s good,” Michael soothed, pushing the cup to his lips again.
But it wasn’t enough. That wouldn’t help us find this fucker. Everyone around here wore work boots.
I glanced down at my own shoes.
Except me.
Still, this was Montana. Ranchers were everywhere.
