Page 49 of Burning Hearts

Jade said, “Crispin doesn’t get back from his, uh”—she glanced at the cop—“work trip for at least a week.”

Logan nodded. “Thanks for coming.” He shook hands with the deputy.

The guy said, “Mills. You’re talking about Jamie Winters?”

“Any idea who might’ve taken her?”

Mills scratched at his jaw. “She was with me this morning. Identified one of the men from the compound for us, used mug shots. She wasn’t able to ID the deceased but was able to tell us he is—or was—the leader of the group.”

Skye said, “Whodidshe ID for you?”

Logan glanced at her. Mills said, “Guy goes by Snatch. His name is Ian Weiss. Born and raised outside Fairbanks but finds himself here in Copper Mountain lately.”

“Any idea where to find him?” Logan asked.

Mills lifted his chin. “Because you hotshots are gonna go question him about your friend? If someone is missing, it’s a police matter.”

JoJo stepped up beside Logan on the other side from Skye. She folded her arms. “We’re smokejumpers.”

“Great. So you’re crazyanddetermined to do whatever it takes to find her.” Mills stepped back. “I’ll inform the sheriff we have a missing person. I suggest you all go back to base and let the police deal with this, given it’s a crime not a fire.”

He turned and strode away.

“What have we got?” Skye spoke mostly to JoJo.

Logan waved the phone. “Her company is looking into a way to find her.”

Jade said, “We could find this Ian Weiss guy and see if he knows where they’ve taken her.”

“We’re assuming the militia guys have her?” JoJo asked.

Logan nodded. “This has to be about her brother. Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into a ransom demand.”

JoJo said, “I’ll find out what everyone else has,” and jogged away.

All Logan could do was try to push away mental images of being delivered Jamie’s finger with a request for millions. His stomach flipped over, and he tried to pray, but all he had the strength to do was breathe.

His phone rang. He had to dig it out of the front pocket of his pants. Bryce calling.Logan managed to say “Hey,” but it came out pretty choked.

“What happened?” his twin asked. “Why can’t I breathe?” Even Bryce sounded choked up.

Logan turned and walked away a couple of paces. He drew in a long breath and held it, wound up on the far sidewalk of the side street. He braced his palm on the side of a building and hung his head, just trying to get control.

His brother worked rescue squad in Last Chance County. He didn’t need to be thrown by Logan’s emotions when it could wind up costing a victim their life.

“What’s going on?”

Logan squeezed his eyes shut. “Jamie…” He managed to choke out. “Someone took her.”

“Okay. Okay.” So much reassurance in his brother’s tone. “I’ll call everyone into the kitchen. We’re at the firehouse. I’ll get them all to pray. Do you want me to call Jude?”

Logan’s brother-in-law was an ATF agent, but he didn’t think that was why Bryce suggested it. “Just pray.”

“We’re on it,” Bryce said. “Call me when you have an update.”

“Thanks.”

“As if you have to say that.” Bryce hung up.

---