Page 19 of Next Level
“Naw, I’m good. We need everyone to be on standby in case they’re sighted in your area. I have these guys and the Portland chapter near me if anything goes bad,” I reassure my best friend.
I smirk, realizing that this is the longest us two fuckers have been apart. There isn’t anywhere we don’t go together, and as roommates, we see each other every day.
Then it hits me.Roommate.Bo Davis must have a roommate. There were three rooms in that house. We need to go back and look deeper. See what other names we can find and ask neighbors.
“Dammit! Roommates! We didn’t think to look into whether Bo Davis had any roommates.”
“I’ll get someone up there right away!” Dawg shouts.
“No, I’ll run down there in the morning and see what I can find out,” I say with purpose.
It gives me something to do. This waiting around for more tips is killing me.
Dawg sighs. “Okay. Just keep us posted.”
“I’ll call you when I’m on my way,” I say, eager to get off the phone.
There’s a pause.
I know he’s not liking the idea of me running around on my own, but this is personal, and I need to do it this way. I have people around me if I need backup, but my mind is all over the place, and having people around me will piss me off or distract me.
“I’ll be okay. I’m just going to look around. Maybe talk to the neighbors if Bo isn’t there. Have Zoom do some more digging and see if we can find out who else lives there,” I say calmly.
“Okay. Whatever you want us to do. We’re here,” Dawg replies grumpily.
The next morning, my phone flashes as I’m leaving Sacramento to head down to Vacaville to do some digging on who lives with Bo. It’s a picture of Sam and Brooke, indicating Brooke is calling.
“Brooke?”
Brooke’s voice vibrates through my car speaker. “Did you see the news last night and this morning?”
“Yeah.”
“Where are you?” she croaks.
I can hear in her voice that something new has happened. She sounds even more upset, as if she’s crying.
“I’m on my way to Vacaville again. What’s going on?” I demand.
Silence.
“Brooke?” I warn.
“You should probably turn around.” Her voice was cracking.
Motherfucker.
I pull over right before getting on the freeway. I’m trying to hold in my anger, but am seething when I say, “Brooke, you better start speaking.”
“The police are making it a priority and working with the FBI since they found evidence someone’s been stalking Samantha for a while. The police also found her phone,” Brooke says tearfully.
Dammit, sheiscrying.
My heart drops.
“Where?”
“They did a thorough search of Bo’s house and found it hidden in the floor of one of the spare rooms.”
