Page 131 of The Rogue

I grip the steering wheel tight, my knuckles going white. My heart still drumming erratically as I glance at the clock again. 6:03 p.m. He’s had my wife for over three hours. I wasn’t taking no for an answer when it came to following the tracker to wherever Eddie Graves is taking her. They’ve got a solid hour on the road ahead of us and reaching them seems impossible at this point.

Luckily, we’re driving behind the three police cars they’ve got heading in that direction.

Noah wanted to drive, given the state I’m in, but I need to be in control.

“As far as we know, she’s alive,” Bradshaw told me as we were leaving. Apparently, the ring also has a pulse monitor. Tessa is still breathing.

It’s the only thing keeping me moving.

That and the radio one of the officers handed me on our way out of the station. Chatter from each car ahead of us keeps me in the loop on what’s going on. Phrases like “suspect vehicle”, “moving eastbound”, and “eyes on target” fill the dark void of my racing imagination.

“She called me,” I mutter. “She called me for help and I didn’t answer.”

Noah stares ahead. “She called you to ask about Jackson. Not this.”

“She risked her life for him. And I let her.”

“That does it. Get out of the car.”

“No. I’m not stopping.” We drive in silence for a few minutes. “What did Frank say when you called him?”

“He spoke to Vince. Judging by the route, this is Eddie proving himself before disappearing for good.”

“Any clue where he’s taking her and why?”

“Vince says it could be one of two places that belong to the Brunetti family.”

“Reeves, keep right. Comin' up on an unmarked exit. It looks like he’s taking her through some backroads.” Sheriff’s voice is calm, measured.

I follow them to the next exit, trying to keep up but I'm losing focus. My mind swirling to dark places.

To the pain I felt when they told me my mother was gone. To the confusion and agony I suffered when Elliot died.

Frank’s voice comes on the line, bringing me back to the present. “We’re almost there. Coming from the other side. You got a visual yet?”

Officer Sharpe, a rookie I met a few times, responds firmly. “No. We’ll keep you posted.”

I want to scream. They’ve done nothing for her for three years, now they roll in and start making demands? I slam my fist over the dashboard and grit my teeth.

Noah’s unfazed.

Another voice comes on the line. “How do you know this isn’t a trap?”

Sheriff comes on the line. “You can hang back if you’re scared, Agent Andrews, but we’re going in.”

I sigh with relief as Noah laughs beside me. “Asshole.”

“Reeves, think he’s taking her to some logging site. It’s too far off the grid—dead zone for communication,” Sheriff says.

“What does that mean?” I snap, my patience worn.

“Need you to stay back, I don’t need to worry about another—”

I slam my foot on the gas. “Like hell. He’s got my wife.”

“Levi, I don’t need another dumb move today. Hang. Back.”

Shit.

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