Leland moved deeper into the vessel, scanning methodically, forcing himself to see it through the eyes of the man they were hunting. Not what was missing. What had been used.
“He never intended to keep her here,” Leland said. “He moved her.”
“He’s not impulsive,” Rhys added quietly. “He had contingencies in place.”
“Or preparations,” Alec said, the implication hitting hard.
Leland wasn’t standing still for speculation. “Where does he go from here?” he demanded, already moving off the boat.
Boots pounded over wet wood, gravel, and then pavement as they hurried to their vehicles.
“I’m pulling everything on Strickland.” Callan advised. “Financials, properties, shell accounts—”
“Known associates,” Dev added. “Anywhere he could stash her. Anywhere he’d feel secure.”
“Not secure,” Rhys corrected. “In control.”
Leland didn’t answer because the distinction didn’t matter. Only one thing did. Julia.
“Phones,” Alec said. “He’s not stupid enough to carry his own.”
“No,” Callan agreed. “But he’ll have something—a burner, a relay, signal bounce. I’ll find it.”
Leland reached the SUV first and yanked the door open. The others were seconds behind him.
Engines turned over and idled, ready to move at Callan’s direction.
“Give me something,” Leland snapped.
“Dev settled into the passenger seat beside him. “Breathe. We’ll move the second we have a lead.”
“Got it.” Callan’s voice came again, tight with focus. “Strickland owns three properties in his name. Two condos, one office. All clean.”
“Fronts,” Alec muttered.
“Checking shell holdings now.”
“Storage units,” Dev said. “Marinas. Anything water-adjacent.”
“Already pulling it.”
Leland gripped the wheel harder. His mind wasn’t on the list. It kept returning to the dock.
To the way she’d looked over her shoulder. To the way he’d let her go. Beyond his reach just for a few minutes.
Because it was Devil’s Pointe, he’dconvinced himself it was safe. They all had.
His jaw flexed. He should have stayed with her. Should have walked down with her. Should have—
He shut that thought down hard. It was useless. Every second he spent there was a second wasted. A second, she might not have.
Callan’s voice snapped sharper. “Got something.”
Silent anticipation filled the SUV only briefly before Leland demanded, “Give it to me.”
“I found a lease,” Callan said. “Not in Strickland’s name. It’s held by a shell corporation tied to one of his old associates. Same LLC that paid his offshore storage fees last year.”
“What’s the lease for?” Alec asked.
