Page 62 of Montana Manhunt

“Sure.”

“That leaves Dana Farraday for us,” Noah said and grabbed his phone. “Let’s see what we can find before dinner arrives.”

Violet scooted her chair closer to Noah as he tapped Farraday’s name into the Fortress secure search engine. When the results came back in less than a minute, she stared at the screen a moment before shifting her gaze to Noah.

His grim expression said it all. “Grant, Rayne.”

Both operatives paused their searches and looked up. “What is it?” Grant asked.

“Dana Farraday is dead. She was murdered six months ago.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

FURY BURNED HOTin Noah’s gut. So Morrison didn’t have a serial killer on the loose, huh? The Morrison PD was deliberately turning a blind eye to the problem or they were totally incompetent.

“How did she die?” Grant asked, his gaze intent.

“Stabbed to death.”

Rayne shook her head. “And no one connected this to the other stabbing deaths in the area, especially Camilla’s?”

“Something is wrong in my hometown,” Violet murmured. “Morrison used to be a safe place to raise a family.”

“I wouldn’t raise my kids here for any amount of money,” Noah muttered. With his luck, he and Violet would have all girls, and he’d constantly be worried about their safety. And he was really reaching, assuming that he and Violet would get married, much less have a family. He couldn’t deny he wanted a life with the beautiful medic. Didn’t mean she felt the same way about him. “What about Charity and Lauren? Are they still alive?”

“Charity is,” Rayne said. “She moved to Wheelersburg as soon as she graduated from high school, and that’s where she’s been ever since. What about Lauren, Grant?”

“She went to North Carolina State University, then moved to Wheelersburg as well. She’s still there.”

“Wheelersburg is an hour from here.” Violet turned to Noah. “What are you thinking?”

“We need to talk to the women as soon as possible.”

“Not tonight,” Rayne murmured. “By the time we finish eating, it will be too late to track them down and have a conversation.”

“She’s right,” Grant said. “We should get their addresses and places of work, then visit them tomorrow.”

Noah inclined his head. “We have other priorities tonight.” Violet wanted to go to her sister’s apartment, and he was going to make that happen for her. Didn’t know exactly what she was looking for, but Noah would help her search. She knew Camilla better than anyone. If there was something to find, she was the one most likely to unearth a clue. He had little faith in the Morrison police department.

Jana returned with a tray loaded with drinks. “I’ll be back in a minute with your food.” She brought their meals and distributed them around the table. “I’ll check on you in a few minutes.” The woman hurried off to talk to more customers seated nearby.

Noah cut into his steak. “Grant, tell Rayne and Violet about the princess.”

Rayne’s head whipped toward the operative. “Princess?”

“It’s not as exciting as it sounds,” he muttered.

“Well, it sounds like a good story. Talk.”

For the next few minutes, Grant told the story about a woman he’d encountered on a protection detail with Echo unit in the Sand Box. The woman they were protecting was royalty and decided that he would be the perfect husband. He regaled the women with the non-classified details of his attempt to point the princess’s interest to another man who obviously was in love with her.

Rayne patted his left hand. “No ring, so you got away. How did you do it?”

Grant’s face flushed. “No way, sweetheart. I’m not telling you anything else.”

“Aww, come on.” Violet pointed her fork at him. “You can’t leave us hanging like this. It’s cruel.”

The operative shifted his gaze to Noah. “I can’t tell them more, right?”

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