Page 75 of Tactical Revival

“She’s being held somewhere near the ocean. The drowning line confirms that. The tide gives us a countdown clock,” Jaxson says.

“Sure, but Sheriff Vick ran drones and bots all up and down the beach, and we haven’t found anything.” Elijah checks his watch. “And we have less than an hour before the tide comes in.”

“What am I missing?” Jaxson snaps, anger radiating off of him.

“We’ll get it figured out.” Lance looks back at the sheriff. “You still have guys out there?”

He nods. “They’re walking up and down the beach. So far, they haven’t found anything.” The man looks exhausted. It’s not typical Hope Springs action to have a missing person and a killer on the loose, so I imagine it’s wearing on him more than it would the average seasoned detective.

I look at Jaxson. This is personal for him.

“Are there any caves nearby? Coves that get submerged?” Lance asks. “Anywhere someone could be tucked away?”

“We checked them,” Sheriff Vick replies.

“What about that old barn near the Klines’ place?” my dad asks. When no one immediately answers, he turns to look at me. Even with everything going on, my cheeks flush with color. He only knows about that place because he busted a high school party I’d snuck out to that was held out there. Of course, we’d been forced to retreat up to the shoreline as soon as the tide came in.

“I thought that thing was long gone,” Michael says.

“I haven’t thought about that place in years,” Sheriff Vick replies. “It’s possible that it’s been destroyed.”

“It’s somewhere to start.” Hope burns in Jaxson’s gaze. “Where is the barn?”

I clear my throat. “Patrick Kline owned some property right off of Sunny Shells Cove. He had an old barn up there that he’d rent out for weddings, but it would flood anytime the tide came in, and eventually, the wood started to rot. When he passed, his kids never did anything with it, so it was used as a make-out spot for teens.”

Jaxson whirls on the sheriff. “Did you check there?”

“It’s private property,” he replies. “We need a warrant.”

“Then get one.” Jaxson grabs his jacket and heads for the door. I start to follow, feeling beyond helpless, but then decide it’s better to stay out of the way. So even as I want to wish him luck, as I want to tell him to be safe, I simply wrap my arms around myself and remain where I am as Lance and Elijah follow him out.

Michael offers me a soft smile, then kisses Reyna, who’s been silent this whole time, and slips out after them.

“How are you doing?” my sister-in-law asks as she wraps her arm around my shoulders.

“Fine.” But when I look at her, she gives me a smile that tells me she knows I’m not. I note the look she exchanges with Andie.

“Come on. Let’s have some girl talk.” She guides me down the hall and into the bedroom I grew up in. After closing the door behind Andie, the three of us sit on my bed, which still boasts the same fox quilt my mother made for me when I was young.

“So?” Andie urges.

“I told you guys that I’m fine.”

“Margot, I’ve known you nearly my entire life. We all know you’re not. So spill.”

“Lanetti is missing, my B&B was nearly burned to the ground, and I’m falling for a man I have no business falling for.” The words spill from my mouth without a filter.

“I already knew about the first two and I suspected the third. What I don’t understand, though, is why you think you have no business falling for him?” Andie asks.

“He’s one of Michael’s best friends.”

“And you’re mine,” Reyna replies. “Yet you didn’t seem to mind when I married your brother.”

“That’s different.”

“How so?” She crosses her arms.

“You didn’t have a son to consider.”

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