Page 49 of Xavier

Looking down, I read Hudson’s name on the caller ID. I answer his call and skip the pleasantries. “Did you get him?”

“Unfortunately, no, but they ditched the white jeep for a blacked out SUV.”

“Blacked out SUV.” I repeat before saying, “I’ll pass that information along to the mayor and he can pass it along to the police.”

“Roger. I’m going to check on the warehouse.”

“Be safe. I’ll be in touch later.”

He disconnects the call and I slip my phone back into my pocket.

I glance toward Brianna, but she’s already looking back at me. Her phone is against her ear, but she isn’t speaking.

Her face is pale, as if the blood has drained from it.

“What’s wrong?” I step closer to her to hear whatever is being said on the other end of her phone call.

She shakes her head. “You said blacked out SUV and I’m wondering if it’s the same one that followed me and tried to make me crash.”

“With everything that’s already happened, I’d say there isn’t any such thing as a coincidence. We will let the police know so they can keep an eye out for it.”

Changing the subject, I add, “Where did your dad run off to?”

“I don’t know. He’s not answering his phone.”

I try to keep a passive expression to not scare her, but him not answering her phone call doesn’t sound positive.

“How about we go inside and see if we can find him?”

She nods her head and lets me lead her inside. As soon as she sees her dad and mom talking with a police officer, she sprints toward them.

When I get to the small group, I relay Hudson’s information. “The suspects have ditched their white jeep for a blacked out SUV, but they are still at large.”

Brianna chimes in. “Lieutenant, I have a feeling it’s the same one from the other day.”

The lieutenant nods his head and says, “I’ll have every cruiser out searching for them.”

He turns around to leave, but I stop him. “Lieutenant, can I have a word, please?”

“Sure, no problem.”

I follow him toward the main doors. “I don’t want to step on any toes, but lives are in danger, so I feel the need to speak up.”

His eyes slightly widen. “About what?”

“The suspects have been seen around the old abandoned warehouses. They were yelling for Everett the day he was murdered.”

“What are they doing in the warehouses and how do you know this?”

“I don’t know what they are doing there, but I might have followed them after the bar fight, but that’s beside the point. Hudson is on his way there now to check things out, so I’d call him if you have any other questions.”

He clenches his jaw like he wants to say something, but doesn’t. He turns around and walks through the doors.

When I get back to Brianna and her family, they are deep in conversation, and from the sounds of it, things aren’t going well.

“I’ll fly to Florida and spend a couple of weeks at the resort. A day at the spa sounds great right about now.”

The mayor interrupts her pleading. “No. Absolutely not. A resort this time of year is too crowded.”

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