Page 104 of Sycamore Circle

“Buddy, I get that you want to be where her car is, but there’s next to no chance that she’s nearby. Whoever took her likely carted her off in his vehicle. You know I’m right.”

“Sorry, but I... I just can’t. I need to feel like I’m doing something.”

“You can pray just as easily back at the house as you can here.”

Bo scowled at him. “I don’t want to pray. I need to do something.”

“Look, I know how you’re feeling. I like being in charge and I like getting things done. But you’ve done all you can. You need to leave the bulk of this in the cops’ hands. You need to let them do their jobs.”

“I feel like she’s nearby. I can’t describe it. I just know she is.”

Lincoln’s expression turned bleak. “Sam, sorry, but that’s unlikely. You want her to be here. I know you do, but wishes are for children and fools.” His voice lowered. “You know that too.”

Anger boiled inside of Bo. Both from Lincoln’s words as well as the knowledge that his friend was probably right. “Just give me another five minutes, okay?”

Lincoln had just nodded when Kevin waved them both over. “Come on. Heilman wants us.”

Kevin Heilman was speaking to Tara as well as a young couple who looked like they were in high school.

“What’s going on?” Bo asked.

Kevin motioned to the kids. “As you know, Tara called the employees, who reached out to everyone they knew who might have been there this morning. This couple was. Bo, Lincoln, this is Amanda and Dane.”

“Hi,” Amanda said.

“Would you two tell these guys what you just told us?”

“We saw that woman you are looking for arguing with a big, mean-looking guy out on the sidewalk,” Amanda said.

“We were sitting in my car, getting ready to pull out,” Dane added.

“The lady was trying to get away from the guy but he had her elbow.”

“Then it looked like he was prodding her on her side.”

“And then?” Bo asked.

Amanda pointed down the sidewalk. “Then we saw them go that way.”

Bo looked at the sidewalk, suddenly noticing that two officers were kneeling on the ground with flashlights. “Detective!” one called out.

“One minute,” Kevin replied. Turning to Tara, he said, “Any idea what is down that way?”

She shook her head. “Nothing, really. There used to be an antique mall, but it closed down. Nothing’s that way except...” She gasped. “Oh, there’s an apartment down there. A guy’s been living down there for a few years, I think.”

“Who?” Lincoln barked.

Tara blinked. “I... I think it’s the guy Joy was with.”

“Detective,” the cop called out again. “We need you now. This is definitely blood!”

Kevin Heilman pulled out his radio and started spitting out codes as fast as he could speak. When Bo tried to pass them, he thrust out an arm. “Not yet.”

Bo shook his head. “You don’t understand.”

“I do. But we’ve got to be smart.” When Bo started to argue, Kevin looked at Lincoln. “Get a handle on him. Now.”

Lincoln’s hand gripped his arm. “He’s right. Take a deep breath and think, Bo.”

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