Page 102 of Lost Cause
“She’s not answering her phone or returning my calls, and I’m concerned.”
“That’s not like her,” Hayden said. “Let me give her a call from my cell to see if she’ll pick up for me.”
Again, Burke didn’t bother to argue. Just like Gabe, Hayden seemed to think she could be blowing him off. He’d obviouslygiven her teammates cause to believe such a thing. Or maybe she had. Either way, he didn’t think these guys had a positive impression of him.
“No answer,” Hayden said. “Went straight to voicemail. If you’re really concerned about it, she has an iPhone, and the Find My iPhone feature is active on all of our phones. I made sure of that so we can find each other at a moment’s notice. You want me to check it?”
Did he? If nothing was wrong, he didn’t want her to think he was spying on her. But something might be wrong—terribly wrong—and at this point he wouldn’t take a chance. “Do it.”
“Hang on.”
He heard Hayden’s fingers moving over a keyboard on the other end of the line and sat back to wait for the information. He couldn’t sit still. He jumped up and started pacing.
“She’s at The Gilded Gallery in Seaside Harbor,” Hayden said. “Isn’t that the place owned by the expert Nolan mentioned?”
Burke’s blood turned cold. “Leonard Shaw isn’t just some expert. Sam just confirmed his fingerprints were found on the crown’s hiding place.”
Hayden’s voice dropped. “Shaw’s also the guy I warned Abby about right before her meeting. He’s on my list of known fences. And he used to be close to Estelle before she vanished.”
Burke’s stomach twisted. “Then he could’ve stolen the crown and killed her.”
“And Abby said she needed to talk to him. She was planning to go alone, but she said she’d contact you first.”
A call Burke never received. A bolt of panic ripped through him, nearly buckling his knees. “We need to get to that gallery. Now! I’m in Surfside Harbor—it’ll take me too long. Can you get over there? Take the team. Just go. Check on her.”
Burke heard shuffling. The scrape of a chair. Footsteps.
“Already leaving,” Hayden said tightly. “Team’s coming with me.”
Burke’s gut clenched like a fist. “I’m heading out. Call me the second you know anything.”
“You got it.”
Burke shoved his phone into his pocket and tore out of the office. Thank God his work vehicle had lights. He planned to keep them on—sirens too—until he reached Shaw’s place.
If anything happened to Abby, he’d never forgive himself.
The van bumped over uneven roads, and Abby rolled around on the hard metal floor. Estelle had bound Abby’s hands behind her back, so she couldn’t right herself or brace against the rough road. Miles had passed. Miles where she’d planned to somehow stall Estelle or slow her down. Failed.
Abby had to buy time until she found an opportunity to escape or someone realized she was missing and came to help. Problem was, no one knew where she’d gone. Hayden had the iPhone app set up for all of them and would at least track her to the antique shop. But then what? They’d have no idea where Shaw was, that Estelle was still alive, or that she’d taken Abby captive. All they would find were her phone and blood on the door. That would tell them something bad had happened, but not what. They could assume the blood was hers.
The van came to a sudden stop. They hadn’t traveled far. Maybe five or so miles. The sun had set fully now, so she couldn’t tell which direction they’d been heading. Especially since Estelle had whipped around several corners. Abby got turned around. She was certain they’d left town and had driven on uneven and bumpy roads. They were out in the country or down by thebeach. Either way, not likely places for anyone to come looking for her.
The van door slid open. The sound of the rushing ocean and the salty, fishy smell came whipping into the van from nearby. They had indeed traveled to the beach.
“Get out.” Estelle’s sharp tone sent Abby’s fear soaring.
Abby knew what Estelle would do if she didn’t comply. She wiggled her way to the edge of the floor and sat up, then slid out, her gaze quickly traveling around the area.
Only the headlights Estelle had left on threatened the black sky with zero light pollution from the town. They’d most certainly left Seaside Harbor behind. A tall, narrow structure rose up on the beach. A lighthouse, she presumed. It didn’t transmit any light so not likely one in service.
Estelle ground the barrel of her gun in Abby’s side. “Head for the lighthouse. No one around to hear us, so any stupid move and I’ll shoot.”
Abby didn’t doubt the woman’s words, so she took careful steps through the deep sand toward the dark structure. Footprints led the way through the mounded sand. With nothing filling the impressions, she figured someone had recently been there.
Had the blood at the antique shop been Shaw’s? Had Estelle brought him out here to kill him too?
She gave Abby another shove. She stumbled, but managed to right herself.
