Page 57 of No Good Deed

Piper had touched so many people in the short time she’d been in Phail. Everyone who’d been at the meeting wanted to help.

Troy was proud of his town’s response, even as his stomach twisted itself into knots with worry.

Where the hell was she?

Where would he take her?

The buildings across the street? The ones she wanted to take down? Any of the empty houses near the B&B would work. As would the old farmhouses that surrounded the town.

Too many options.

“Hey.” His cousin Fiona squeezed his arm and dragged him over to a chair. “Sit.”

She sat herself and tugged him beside her. “No heading to Worst Case Scenario Land. We’re going to find your lady.”

His lady. His. “I didn’t even tell her—” His voice broke, and he swallowed hard

Fiona pulled him into a hug. “She loves you. You’ll get your chance. We’re going to find her. And not just because we want to hear the rest of her ideas.”

That almost made him smile. Fiona pulled back and put her hands on his arms. “From the way she looks at you, she feels the same way.”

Hope bloomed in his chest. “You think?”

Fiona smiled. “I do. Her heart’s right there in her eyes whenever she sees you. I like her a lot, Troy. You’re going to be very good together.”

If he could convince her to stay.

After they found her.

He patted Fiona’s hand. “Thanks, Fi.”

Marcus whistled sharply and everyone stopped speaking. The deputy held up his hand and spoke into the phone. “Hold him on suspicion of assault and kidnapping. The name is too coincidental. Once you have him in custody, I need to do a video interview. I have fingerprints we can check.”

Troy crossed the room until he stood beside Arrow. His friend hung up the phone. “One of the deputies to the south of us pulled over a silver Accord. The owner and driver is a Chad Westerlake. His driver’s license shows a Chicago address. He has to be connected to Ethan, but he won’t talk. The deputy is taking him into custody. I should be able to talk with him soon. I’ll get answers.”

He would. Arrow could intimidate the hell out of anyone with just a look.

But soon wasn’t now. And if Ethan wasn’t with his cousin, there was a good chance he was still here. “Let’s get searching.”

Troy found himself teamed with Jim and Carl. They would check out the empty homes around the B&B. Most of the empty driveways hadn’t been plowed, so it wouldn’t be difficult to spot footprints or tire tracks on the properties. They’d check out backyards, too, because it was easy to park elsewhere and walk through the woods. As Westerlake knew from when he’d tried to break into her car.

They decided to walk in case they spotted any clues along the way. Their pace was more jog than walk, and it didn’t take long to reach their street. “There just aren’t that many open buildings hidden from view. It takes effort to break into a building, even when it’s empty.”

Jim agreed. “At least with Doc’s and the saloon being opened, there are two fewer places to check.”

Troy nodded, but after a few steps, he slowed. Jim and Carl turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

Troy let the idea sit in his head for a minute. It seemed ridiculous, but it was also possible. “You guys go ahead. I’m going to check something quick, and then I’ll catch up with you.”

Carl shook his head. “We’ll go with you. Marcus said for us to stick together. Safer that way.”

Jim nodded. “And better to take down this bastard. What are you thinking?”

“I’m wondering why no one spotted him taking Piper out of the saloon. It might be because he never did. It’s a big building. We used the main floor, but no one has been upstairs. Other than Piper’s presentation, no one has used the building in years. Oreo was barking at the bottom of the stairs earlier. I thought he was just confused and looking for her. Maybe he knew she was up there.”

Carl frowned. “You think she’s been upstairs all this time? Wouldn’t we have heard her? Or him?”

Troy shook his head. “No one’s been inside since we realized she’s been taken. She could be tied up. Or gagged.” He refused to think anything worse.

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