Page 46 of Scorched

“You know, I almost wish it was snow,” Maggie said, pulling into a spot as close to the door as she could find.

“Why?”

“Because I hate rain without thunder. It’s usually cold and just blah. At least storms are exciting.”

“True. But it’s fall, and this is what it does.” He took off his seatbelt. “Ready?”

She unfastened her belt and took the keys out of the ignition, grabbing her purse. “Yep.”

They flung their doors open and dashed to the overhang, shaking the water off as they reached shelter.

“Man, it’s really coming down.” Declan pulled open the door and held it for her.

She walked inside and smiled at the desk sergeant, Alaina Wilder.

“Hi, Maggie. Lieutenant. Are you here to see the sheriff?”

“We are,” Maggie answered.

Alaina pushed a logbook toward them and two visitor’s badges. “Sign in for me.”

They scrawled their names on the book and pinned the badges to their shirts. Alaina pushed a button to unlock the door and it buzzed.

“He’s in his office.”

“Thanks.” Maggie smiled at her and led the way through the door. They walked down the hallway, following the perimeter of the bullpen to get to Seb’s office. His door was cracked. She knocked softly and gave it a push.

“Hey.” He sighed and sat back in his chair. “Did you talk to Macy?”

“Yeah.” Declan followed Maggie inside, and they sat in the chairs in front of the desk. “She said she heard from her a few years ago. I guess she was blitzed and a little incoherent, but Macy said she learned she was in Denver at the time. She didn’t know anything more precise than that.”

“Well, that gives me a place to start. I’ll call up there and see if they have an address for her. If she was using, she might have been arrested recently.”

Declan leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees and pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes for a brief moment. “I just don’t understand why she’d be back here. There was nothing here for her. Nothing. She knew Macy and I didn’t want anything to do with her. Why would she come back?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to do my damnedest to find out.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I know. I’m just frustrated. And worried. Did you find my dad?”

“Not yet. He was in prison at the state penitentiary until about a year ago. I called the warden, and he pulled his file. I got the name of his P.O. and was getting ready to call him when you arrived.”

“Do it.” Declan motioned to the phone on the desk.

Seb picked up the receiver and punched in the number on a sticky note.

“Hi, this is Sheriff Sebastian Archer, down in Boone County. I’m looking for some information on one of your parolees, Cole Briggs.”

Declan steepled his fingers, resting them against his chin. He tapped the toes of one foot as he listened. Maggie sat quietly next to him, staring at her brother.

Seb picked up his pen and scrawled an address across the sticky note. “Okay, thanks.” He hung up. “Last known address is in Denver. Feel like going for a drive?”

“Hell, yes.” He stood.

“How about you, Mags?”

She rose. “No. You two go. I need to make sure I’m ready for court tomorrow. There were a few things I needed to run down yet, and I need to meet with my client.”

Declan touched her shoulder. “Watch yourself. I hate that my messed-up family might have put you in danger.”

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