Page 107 of The Girl in the River

She parked, checked her weapon, and kept her instincts honed as she walked up the drive and rang the doorbell. Seconds passed, stretching into minutes as she waited before ringing the bell again and banging on the door.

“Mr. Moon, open up, it’s the police!”

Five more minutes and she walked around the house. Lights were off in the kitchen. No one was outside. The sound of rainwater dripping from the roof of the back porch blended with the whine of the wind and a flock of birds cawing above the pond.

Frustrated, she returned to her car then answered her phone.

“Ellie, my partner called,” Derrick said. “He located Kevin’s car. It’s not moving. I’ll send you the GPS if you want to head there.”

“Will do. I’m at his father’s house and he’s not here.”

“I told you not to go alone,” he growled.

Ellie huffed. “I’m not at the warehouse and I’m armed, Derrick. Just find Evan and let me find Pixie. If I need back-up, I’ll request it.”

He muttered a choice word. “You’d better. Call me when you locate Kevin’s car and be careful. He’s dangerous.”

“I know he is. Gotta go.” Ellie hung up, cutting off the lecture she’d expected he was ready to give.

If she found Pixie and she was in danger, she’d do whatever necessary to save her. Back-up be damned.

ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR

CROOKED CREEK

Cord replayed the conversation with Ellie in his mind. She’d warned him to wait for back-up and said she’d do the same, but he didn’t believe her for a minute. Knowing Ellie, if she thought that little girl was in danger, she’d barrel straight into a blazing fire to save her.

It was one of the things he admired most about her. And the thing that drove him nuts.

Lola poured his coffee into a to-go cup. “Let me guess. Ellie needs you.”

He knew he’d blown Lola off a few times for Ellie, but there were priorities. “I’m on the governor’s task force,” he said. The thought gave him pride. At least he was doing something important with his sorry life. “Mia’s daughter Pixie was kidnapped. I can’t sit here and not help.”

Lola gave him a weary look. “I know. I hope y’all find her and Mia.” She squeezed his hand. “Just be safe, Cord. You may not realize it, but you are important to some of us.”

For a moment, his lungs tightened with emotion. She was still waiting on his answer about moving in together. But… he had to go.

“Thanks,” he murmured, touched by her words. But his demons rose from the bowels of hell to taunt him, and he accepted the coffee, then headed out.

Maybe on the drive to Moon Stillery he’d make a decision.

But the minute he got behind the wheel, all he could think about was Ellie and finding the missing little girl.

ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE

ROCKY BOTTOM

Ellie followed the GPS to Hog Mountain Road and realized Kevin had been heading to Foggy Mountain, but he hadn’t made it. His black Range Rover was on the side of the road, nose into a boulder, front end crunched.

She pulled up behind it and parked, hand on her weapon, ready to draw as she surveyed the area. At first glance, she saw no movement. No one around.

Fear for Pixie robbed her breath as she approached. What if the little girl was injured?

A few raindrops continued to ping the roof of the car and the trees shook in the wind. At the rear door, she shined her flashlight into the interior, checking the back seat. No Pixie. She inched closer and looked through the front window but Kevin was not inside.

Panning the interior, she noticed blood on the front seat and steering wheel. A knot of fear burned in her stomach. Grabbing her phone, she called Bryce.

“I found Kevin Moon’s Range Rover in a ditch.”

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