Page 65 of Dolly

Straight to the point.

I don’t sign it. I doubt I need to.

I leave the note on top of Cathy’s computer. I’m taking the one from the playhouse. There’s nothing on it they can’t access from the web, and once they start looking into the CDs and the list Todd made, they’ll find what they need.

I glance once more at the note, hoping Pierce will see it.

Find them all or pay.

Twenty-Seven

DOLLY

“Are you okay, Ken?” I run my fingers through his hair, drawing him away from the computer screen. He’s been flipping through news websites all morning. When he turns to look at me, it’s with a heavy scowl.

“I’m fine.”

I trace his lips with my fingertip. “You don’t look fine. You look serious. And mad. Are you mad at me?”

His brow wrinkles. “Should I be mad, Dolly? What were you doing all morning?” he asks, wrapping his arm around my waist and hauling me into his lap. “Were you being a good girl for me or were you digging around for things you shouldn’t have been?”

He got us another hotel room on the fancy side of town. He says the cost is fine because it’s only for one day.

“I read the book you gave me. But I’m done with it.” I lean into him, inhaling the musky smell of his cheek. He shaved after his shower this morning, and I love the scent.

“You finished it already?” he asks with a bit of a laugh. I don’t blame him for being surprised. Television was a luxury I wasn’t afforded growing up. Seeing the world outside the bubble my parents created for me would have given me ideas of freedom. So, I read. Everything and anything. I devoured books like some kids binge potato chips.

“It was an easy read,” I say. I don’t want to explain I learned to read quickly because I never knew if my father or mother would take it away before I finished. It would only serve to upset him, and I want his smile back.

“Did you like it?” He rubs his hands across my back in a circular pattern. He’s as worried about my temperament as I am his.

“I did.” I pull away from him and frame his face with my hands. “Did you find what you wanted?” I force him to notice the elephant waltzing around the room.

He blows out a big breath. Pulling my hands away from his face, he nudges my attention to the computer.

“Deputy Mayor is our next stop, but I don’t think this stops with him. I think there’s someone else in the game. Why would he take the last girl? And use the second house? Why bother with letting Bossman and Beardman have their fun next door?”

“We’ll have to ask him.” I smile. Interrogating these assholes gives me more purpose than just ending their pathetic existence.

“The cops should have been to Cathy’s house by now.” He breaks my good mood. “It could get more difficult to get to him tonight.”

I push off his lap. “More difficult or impossible?” I ask.

He raises his eyebrow at me, like that’s going to take the edge off my irritation. I want this done.

“Difficult. I’m not saying we aren’t going. I’m only warning you it might not be as easy as getting into Cathy’s house.” He spins the chair around so he’s facing me.

“Why get into his house? Why not follow him until we can grab him and take him somewhere we know we won’t be found?” It seems like everyone else is snatching up kids, women, doing whatever they want with them, why the hell can’t we?

Ken considers it.

“It would be better to go somewhere else. You said he has a daughter. A wife.” I pause a moment. “I don’t want them hurt.”

“Okay. We’ll get him alone. Where should we take him?”

“Do you remember where the warehouse is you and Cathy went to? When Beardman took you?”

His brow wrinkles. He taps his finger against his lips. “Yeah, I think I do.”

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