Page 431 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

None of them liked that.

“This is personal for all of us.” Addie shrugged. “But I have two FBI agents in my office working this case, and they have no personal connection to any of it.”

She was glad she’d asked for backup. They might be strangers to her, but it could come in handy if she was right that Hank had been orchestrating things. Covering up. Planning, and experimenting.

He might’ve figured out how to get her back here. For some specific reason she hadn’t figured out yet.

“So we just turn it over to feds we don’t know?” Lachlan said.

Addie nodded. “It’s the right thing to do. So, yes. I’m fully prepared to let them take this and step back if necessary. I did what I could. They can find Hank and figure out his involvement in every death the FBI was handed to investigate. I’m telling you guys the FBI is investigating these cases and Hank is the number one suspect as of right now. Don’t get in the way.”

Addie’s phone rang. She slid it from her pocket, hoping it was one of the agents. Or Hank turning himself in like Celia’s father had.

It was Russ.

She swiped her thumb across the screen. “Hey, can I call you back in a minute?”

A low moan sounded across the line. “Addie…”

Her body went cold. “Russ?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Black spots sparked at the edges of his vision.Don’t pass out.

Shaking with pain, Jacob tried to control his breaths. The stitches on his stomach were soaked red. Wet.

He slumped against the wall, hands tied behind his back.

Sweat beaded on his face and down his spine.

His body flushed with heat.

No way could he get up, let alone walk. He barely managed to keep himself upright. But he wasn’t going to leave Mona, and he didn’t have the strength to get them both out of here.

The room had been cleared of furniture. Living area, kitchen, and dining. Whatever might have once been here had been removed. The inside white, painted that color. Primer on the drywall, but this was no renovation. Floor. Ceiling. Walls. The only color difference was the ancient chrome stove.

Mona lay too far for him to reach her. She was out cold and had been ever since Hank dragged her in from the car. She had a cut above her eyebrow and blood at the corner of her mouth.

Blinds on the window were down. He could see trees outside between the slats, lit by an exterior light. Jacob had no idea what time it was.

All he knew was that reality was about to hit him like a train. There would be no escaping it when he acknowledged the fact this was so similar to what happened before.

Him injured, though he’d only been beaten by Ivan Damen while he was unconscious from the shot that incapacitated them on homecoming night. Addie had been in a similar state, though he’d had a concussion after the fact. He didn’t know if she’d suffered the same because they hadn’t talked much after the hospital.

He’d tried, but too quickly they’d argued. Too much pain between them. Stirred up by her mother. It had ended in them parting ways and never reconciling.

Until now.

Jacob sniffed back the burn of tears.

He knew she’d rather be here than her sister. Did she know? Addie would search until she found them. He prayed it wouldn’t be too late when she did.

Russ was hurt.

Mona was here.

The door opened, and Jacob knew he couldn’t avoid the obvious any longer.

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