Page 60 of Hidden Shadows
Her gaze held his for one full heartbeat, then finally she nodded. He kept one arm around her waist as they walked out to the car, and the other near his concealed weapon.
She was quiet the entire drive back to the resort, but he kept his fingers wrapped around her thigh, thumb grazing her. He watched the rearview mirror, making sure no one followed them. By the time they were back, some color had returned to her face. He was about to climb out when her phone rang.
She frowned. “It’s Rad.” She answered, putting the call on speaker. “Hey, Rad. Everything okay?”
“Actually, no. Beth’s missing.”
Finley’s gasp was loud, and Nixon fisted his hands.
“She didn’t show up for work today. I thought maybe she’d come in later, but she didn’t and I couldn’t get through to her. I’ve just gone to her place. Her car’s in the drive, but she’s not here. I’ve called the police but thought I’d check in with you as well.”
Finley took a moment to answer. “No. I’m sorry, Rad. I haven’t seen or talked to her today.”
He blew out an audible breath. “Okay. Let me know if she makes contact.”
When the call ended, she gave Nixon a desperate look. “Do you think—”
“We’re not gonna play a guessing game, Finley. The police know she’s missing and when they find her, we’ll find out what happened to her.”
The guilt on her face was so heavy, it sliced at his flesh. “Maybe he took her as some kind of punishment for me…or a replacement.”
He was shaking his head before she’d finished speaking. “Don’t do that to yourself. Tomorrow, we’ll check in with Rad. Until then, they’re gonna search for her.”
She swallowed, and even though she nodded, he could see she didn’t believe it. He wanted to take away her pain and guilt, but there was nothing either of them could do. Because the truth was, he felt it too. That this was probably connected.
CHAPTER20
“Beth?” Finley shouted the woman’s name.
People passed her in droves. Snow fell around her. But all she could see was the back of the woman in front of her.
It was Beth. She knew from the red hair. The height. The shape of her body. But she wasn’t turning or acknowledging Finley’s calls. It was like she couldn’t hear her. Maybe with the crowd, it was too noisy, and she needed to get closer.
Finley weaved through the throngs of people, trying to close the distance between them, desperate to reach her. But every time she thought she was getting close, she’d blink and the distance would be bigger. The path more congested.
Desperation wove into her bones, causing her to shove people aside. Become frustrated at every fairgoer who blocked her path. When someone pushed her and she fell to her knees, she lost Beth completely.
Quickly, she rose and searched, her gaze finally finding her.
“Beth! Please, stop!”
But Beth didn’t stop or turn, and neither did anyone else. It was like her voice didn’t reach a single person. Was she even making any noise? She felt helpless.
The desperation twined into something else. Something that suffocated her. Clawed at her.
She pushed harder. Moved her feet faster. But every step felt futile. Like the distance was impossible to make up.
When Beth slipped into her trailer, relief blasted Finley’s system. Because now she had a chance to reach her.
Her feet ached and the cold slapped across her flesh. She didn’t stop to question why she was here at the fair. Didn’t wonder where Nixon was. All she could think about was reaching Beth. Checking on her. Making sure she was okay.
It took too long, but finally, she reached the trailer. When she wrapped her fingers around the doorknob, the cold of the metal bit into her skin. She ignored it and tugged it open.
“White Christmas” played inside the trailer, its melody loud. But that wasn’t what she focused on. It was Beth.
The woman stood on the other side of the space, her back facing Finley.
The air rushed out of her chest. “Beth…I’m so glad you’re okay.”
