Page 117 of Deadly Revenge

Max took out his pad. “Where exactly is it?”

The man shrugged. “Maybe a couple miles away—these roads are so curvy, it’s hard to tell distance.”

Jenna thanked them. “We’ll check it out.”

They climbed back in the SUV and Max put the gear in reverse. “That sounds like the place we planned to check out next. Put the address in the GPS and see how far it is.”

“It’s two-point-five miles,” she said.

They met two pickups and a car not long after they passed Mr. Darby’s drive, and a mile later, the GPS indicated they were arriving at the address.

“Next house on the right,” Jenna said.

The small house sat back off the road. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s home,” Max said.

Jenna noted grass near the house that had been pressed down.Some of it was even kicked up like maybe someone had parked there instead of the drive and then left in a hurry. “I’ll make sure.”

She hopped out of the SUV and jogged to the front door before he could stop her. It would surprise her if whoever took her dad had him stashed at a place so easy to find him. When no one answered, she trudged back and climbed in the SUV.

“I’m not marking it off the list,” she said, her tone brooking no argument.

Max backed out of the drive. “What’s the name on the rental agreement?”

“Tony Miller.”

“Does it say how many occupants?”

She ran her finger down the paper. “One. Did you notice that someone, or maybe several someone’s, had parked on the grass?”

“I did. Call Mr. Weaver and see if you can get any information on this property.”

“I’ll put it on speaker.” The call went straight to voicemail.

“Maybe we can catch him at the funeral,” Jenna said.

Something about the place bothered Jenna, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. But something else bothered her more. “Why do you think no one has asked for a ransom?”

He didn’t answer right away, then Max drew in a breath. “You have to consider—”

“Don’t say it!”

“Jenna.”

“If my dad were gone, I’d feel it here.” She touched her chest above her heart.

“The only thing is ... sometimes our heart deceives us.”

“No.” She refused to believe her dad might be dead.

“We’re running short of time to make the funeral. Do you think Mr. Darby would open his gate if you called and asked?”

“He may not answer his phone.” She put it on speaker after shedialed. Jenna was surprised when the old man answered. “This is Deputy Jenna Hart.”

“I know who the number belongs to.”

Mr. Darby was in fine form today. “Good. Would you mind opening your gate so we don’t have to crawl through the fence?”

A long pause followed, and Jenna checked her phone to make sure she still had a connection.

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