Page 104 of Lost Cause
“Just a long shot,” Hayden replied. “I found a mention in a local paper. The sale’s not final, but Shaw’s in the process of buying an old lighthouse. Coastal property.”
Burke didn’t care about final. This location was a lead. Right now, it was all he had. “Send me the coordinates.”
“On it. We’ll meet you there.”
A chime lit up his phone. The GPS loaded instantly.
His pulse spiked.
The lighthouse was on the edge of Seaside Harbor—his side. He was only three minutes out. Three minutes from possibly finding Abby alive.
Or not.
He floored the gas pedal, tires screaming against pavement.
Hold on, Abby. I’m coming.
In the basement with big construction work lights burning bright, to the floor. “Don’t make a move.”
Abby tried not to be afraid. Tried to pretend it didn’t matter. Pretend she wasn’t concerned with what Estelle was about to do. But inside, her stomach rolled and acid burned up her throat.
Please, please, Lord. Don’t let Estelle win. Don’t let her kill me. Sure, I want to live, but I’m not asking for myself. I’m asking for Burke, who has finally been able to consider loving someone again. For my team members who don’t need to deal with the loss of a teammate. Even for my family, though I don’t know how they’d respond.
Estelle had made a call while Abby prayed, and she tuned into it now.
“What do you mean there’s some question about my trip back to France?” Estelle nearly screamed into the phone. “What’s wrong with my passport?”
Tapping her foot, she listened carefully, her eyes narrowing into spiteful slits. “You better figure it out. I’m leaving tonight or you’ll pay the price.”
She shoved her phone into her pocket.
Abby was certain the gun would now be trained on her again, only this time the unstable woman would fire. Instead, she started pacing, running her hand over hair no longer rich black like earlier in her photos, but brown and laced with silver.
She suddenly spun and stared at Abby. “You’re law enforcement. You can fix it so the authorities aren’t questioning my passport.”
Abby likely couldn’t do any such thing, but she wouldn’t tell Estelle. “Sure, but I’ll have to go into the office to take care of the paperwork.”
“Don’t think I’m stupid.” Estelle’s stare turned into a challenge. “You don’t help me, I get that hunky detective you’ve been hanging out with to do it. Then I’ll kill him too.”
Abby stifled a gasp. “If I call him to do the paperwork, I’ll have to tell him you’re alive, and he’d have to insist you stay in the country until the investigation is resolved.”
“What about one of your teammates? I read their bios on your website and know they’re all former law enforcement officers. One of them must have a contact who can make something happen under the table.”
“Sure, yeah, that might work.” Once again, Abby was certain they couldn’t sidestep federal law, but someone on the team might have a contact who could help. “I’ll have to tell them where I am and why I didn’t come home after my meeting today.”
“Lie,” Estelle snapped. “Say you and the detective have a thing for each other, and you’re on a date.”
Abby’s stomach twisted. “What if he calls them?”
Estelle’s gaze sharpened. “Is that likely?”
“With everyone working on this investigation, it could happen,” she said, though even she didn’t sound convincing to herself.
Estelle’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe in chances. I believe in instincts.” She cut the ropes on Abby’s hands and held out her phone. “Pick the team member most likely to have the right contact. You have five minutes.”
Abby froze.
Five minutes. Just five. For a decision that could mean the difference between life and death.
