Page 107 of Deadly Target (Rocky Mountain Courage 2)

Terra, Jack, and Alex all eyed him in surprise. Nathan shared what he knew so far, though he was still putting all the pieces together. Their faces grew increasingly grim as they listened.

“We’ll find them, Nathan,” Terra said, sounding as if she was encouraging herself as much as him.

“County deputies and local police officers are searching,” Jack said. “Henry has called in the state too. He’s requested a triangulation of both Celia and Erin’s cells, but nothing yet.”

“Then what are we doing here?” Alex asked. “Any idea where they would hide?”

Terra shook her head. “We should just spread out and search different regions of the town and the county. Keep in contact. I tried calling her cell but have heard nothing. She might have gotten rid of it if she thought it could lead anyone to her. If they were trying to escape, why didn’t they just come directly to the county offices or the police department? I don’t understand.”

Henry stepped out of the house. “Detective Tanner, I need you in here.”

At that same moment, Trevor West stepped under the tape, signed the crime scene log, and headed for the house. It would seem Nathan hadn’t officially been invited to this party, but he was good with that.

Jack stiffened, and his shoulder lifted as if he would argue with Henry. Nathan nudged him. “Go. Learn more for us so we can search for her.”

Because that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Erin needed him out there looking for her. Then again, considering what he already knew, she and Celia could be long gone. They had disappeared before.

Nathan took a few moments to look at the house, silently praying for Erin’s safety. Maybe if he got into the house, he would see something that would let him know where they had gone. But it was probably better that Nathan be left to his own devices rather than get wrangled into one side of the investigation. To that end, he was only wasting time standing here. He’d learned enough.

“I’m heading out now.” He nodded to Terra and Alex and started across the yard.

“Wait,” Terra said.

The pair caught up to him and ducked under the tape after him.

“We’re searching too, Nathan,” she said. “We’ll find her. Keep us updated. Together we can do this. I’m texting you and Alex so you’ll have each other’s numbers. We can communicate anything we find.”

He headed down the sidewalk alone toward his vehicle. Alex and Terra had parked in the opposite direction. Inside his vehicle, he called Erin’s cell. Terra said she’d tried to call, but Nathan had to try again too. The call went to voice mail. If she was in control of the situation, she would have texted or called him. At least he hoped she would have. Jack had mentioned there was a 911 call.

Darkness and fear clawed at him, trying to bring him down.

“Lives are at stake.”

I think I understand now, Dad.

The cold case Dad had been looking into was about Celia’s past, and Dad had learned enough that he was terrified of it catching up to her—and those around her. Dad had already lost someone he loved because he was close to making the connection.

While Nathan didn’t know all the connections yet, he now understood why Dad had told him and no one else. Nathan still cared deeply about Erin.

Dad was terrified of what could happen in Big Rapids. He was terrified of what had happened, and of those who would get hurt and possibly killed, including Nathan.

That terror raced through Nathan’s blood now. He called Mom and informed her in no uncertain terms to remain at the hospital where she would be safe and protected and to pay close attention to every person who entered Dad’s room. He wished Dad could communicate and tell him more.

A few neighbors stood outside to watch, gathering in groups and talking. Some to police officers who were canvassing the neighborhood asking questions. He steered from the curb and slowly made his way around the block to the other side of the roadblock and parked against the curb for a few moments. If Celia and Erin weren’t taken, someone here had to have seen them leave on their own.

Nathan spotted one neighbor who normally was outside watering or weeding or popping in to say hello. Delmar Wilson peeked out his window, the mini blinds barely moving, but enough that Nathan caught the movement. Erin had shared that she’d always thought he was creepy, for no good reason, she’d admitted.

Nathan didn’t know where to search first, but he would have a word with Mr. Wilson to start. Nathan got out of his vehicle and moseyed over to the neighbor’s house and knocked on the door.

Wilson didn’t answer. Nathan knew he was inside. Was he avoiding the police for a reason now?

Nathan knocked again. “Mr. Wilson, we need your help. Please talk to us. We’re looking for Erin and Celia. You care about them, don’t you?”

Nothing. Nathan tried the knob, but the man had locked his door. Nathan rubbed his chin. He would prefer to simply break down the door instead of play games. But he reined in his frustration and hurried back to his vehicle, where he waited for a few moments.

Where would Erin go? Come on, think like her. Think like her mom.

He considered everything that had happened.

Dad called about the case and then Celia tried to kill herself. Nathan was leaning toward Dad’s call being the catalyst for her attempt. Or was that completely wrong? Celia claimed she’d woken up in the hospital and couldn’t remember anything. And she denied she had tried to kill herself. Was she telling the truth? Had someone tried to kill her and stage it as a suicide?

Wilson’s garage door slowly opened, and a small red sedan backed out. He was trying to get away rather than answer more questions. Why? Nathan followed the car, remaining far enough back so Wilson wouldn’t see him.

Anxiety twisted inside—was he wasting time?

The man steered around town as if he were trying to lose someone. Nathan hung back even more. He contacted Jack and left a voice mail about what was going on, then did the same with Trevor, Terra, and Alex.

Celia’s neighbor was acting suspiciously. Or maybe Nathan was looking for answers where there were none. Nathan’s gut told him that Delmar Wilson knew more than he had told the police.

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