Page 4 of Forgotten Girls

“Yeah, I know. The thought she might actually care for him makes me sick to my stomach.” Styles picked up the bag containing the laptop and weapons and placed it on top of his suitcase.

Beth glared at him. She couldn’t allow him to beat up the guy. “You’ll need to show compassion for her, not anger. We’ll need to bring him in, not beat him to death, no matter how we feel.”

“Really?” He started rolling it toward the door on the other side of the helipad. “Don’t look at me like that, Beth. We can both read people, and if the situation isn’t playing out right, we’ll take it from there.” He pulled open the door and waved her through. “I need to know if it’s her. If it is and she’s living with him, nothing is going to stop me taking down that pervert.”

They took the small elevator and the doors opened up on the ground floor of the firehouse. The local fire chief was waiting for them outside the door. Beth smiled at him and held out her hand. “Special Agent Beth Katz and this is Special Agent Dax Styles. Thank you for allowing us to use your helipad.”

“It’s not often we get the FBI in town.” The fire chief shook their hands and looked at Styles. “Are you chasing down a criminal?”

“Nope.” Styles shook his head. “It’s a missing persons case at the moment. Which way to the sheriff’s department?”

“Twenty yards along Main on the left.” The fire chief pointed out of the door. “It’s a large redbrick. You can’t miss it.”

“Thanks.” Styles headed out into the watery sunshine with Bear on his heels.

Nodding to the fire chief, Beth followed. Louan was a clean town and its variety of different stores surprising for a small town. Prosperity oozed from every brick. As she walked past the locals, she couldn’t help noticing the way they were dressed. Most were wearing expensive winter gear and really good-quality boots. She slowed her step outside a shoe store and peered into the window. “Styles, wait one second. Look at the winter boots. We can’t get anything like this in Rattlesnake Creek.” She gave him a determined look. “I need new boots and so do you.”

“We’re not shopping now.” Styles stared at the sky as if seeking intervention. He lowered his gaze to her. “When we’re through here, we’ll stop by on the way home, okay?”

Shaking her head, Beth stared at him. “Okay, I’ve already picked out the ones I want.”

“Let’s go.” Styles pulled down his hat to cover his eyes and continued along the sidewalk, his suitcases’ wheels squeaking as he went. “I guess I could do with new boots too.”

They wasted no time at the sheriff’s office and, keys in hand, picked up their ride from the parking lot out back. The vehicle was a sheriff’s department SUV and still had the new smell inside. Beth raised her eyebrows at Styles. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting this. It’s brand new.” She asked the GPS for directions to the motel, and they were soon on their way.

The motel was larger than she’d expected and more for drivers and miners staying the weekend in town. The double bed in Beth’s room was clean, but the carpet and furnishings were at least twenty years old. The room had a lingering odor of tobacco, and she flung open the door to air out the smell. She unpacked her bag but stared at the suitcase carrying her laptop and the weapons. The room would be easy to break into and she couldn’t risk anyone stealing her laptop or the weapons. She heard a noise and spun around to see Styles leaning against the doorframe.

“Sorry to spook you.” Styles frowned and glanced at the unopened suitcase. He wiggled the doorknob on her door and met her gaze. “This isn’t the safest place in town. I figure we leave the valuables in the SUV and bring them inside when we get back.”

Breathing out a long sigh, Beth nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. That door might as well be paper, it’s so thin. I could push through the lock using my shoulder. I can’t risk anyone taking my laptop. It’s encrypted, but criminals are smart these days.”

“Okay.” Styles took the suitcase and propelled it outside to the vehicle. “Are you ready to go? I can’t wait to see if this woman is Ginny.”

FOUR

The drive to the Shoebridge ranch house took about ten minutes. The home sat on a decent block of land. A chicken coop was at one end, and a garden bed dug over for planting sat ready beside a garden shed. Beth glanced at Styles. “You okay?”

“I’m a little apprehensive.” Styles climbed from the vehicle and straightened. “If it is her, I have a ton of questions.”

Dogs barked and Bear’s hackles raised as he took a position in front of them. The front door flew open, and a woman stopped in the doorway gaping at them. They’d decided to wear their FBI jackets as visiting properties uninvited could be dangerous. Beth raised her voice over the dogs. “FBI, ma’am. Could you control your dogs, please? We need a word with you.”

The woman yelled at the dogs, and they slunk off around the back of the house. Beth glanced at Styles. He was wearing his shades and had his hat pulled down over his eyes. He looked intimidating but Beth could feel his anxiety. “Thank you.” She moved forward. “Rene Shoebridge?”

“Yes, that’s me.” The woman looked from one to the other, her expression startled. “Is there something wrong?”

“Is your husband at home?” Styles moved forward.

“No, his shift started at one.” Rene’s brow wrinkled. “What do you need to speak to me about?”

“Can we come inside?” Styles lifted his chin. “We need to talk to you and it’s freezing out here.”

“I want to see some ID.” Rene looked at Beth. “Just because you’re wearing an FBI jacket means nothing.”

Surprised by her diligence, Beth pulled out her cred pack and held it up for her to see. “Agent Beth Katz, and this is my partner.” She avoided mentioning Styles’ name in case it spooked her.

Beside her, Styles flicked open his cred pack displaying the FBI badge. The woman nodded and stood to one side. “Not the dog. I don’t allow dogs inside the house.”

“Sure.” Styles walked back to the SUV and opened the back door and waved Bear inside.

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