Page 107 of Betrayed

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Logan’s pulse pounded like he was driving down a rumble strip as he looked through Miles’s house for any clue as to where he had taken AJ. He’d known it was too good to be true to think AJ would be there, but this was where his phone had been when he’d called Logan. So where were they now? They’d gotten here quickly, but not quick enough. Apparently Miles had been ready to leave. Logan had to find some clue.

“Hey, Logan.” Adam’s voice came from the other end of the house. “You might want to see this.”

Logan went down the hall and turned into what must be the master bedroom. It was minimally decorated. Simple lamp on a nightstand, neutral colors everywhere.

Adam stood along a wall holding the edge of a large canvas of an abstract painting. It was strangely off center in the room.

“What is it?”

Adam tugged on the side of the picture. It came out from the wall and folded open, revealing a collage of pictures of AJ. Miles had been watching her for more than three weeks.

Pictures of AJ running through the park. Going into and out of the fire station. Coming and going from her dad’s house, Granny’s house, and Will’s house. At church. In her apartment, including ones of her changing.

Logan’s blood ran hot.

What had set Miles off? Miles had been in that car accident. Was that when he noticed her again because she’d been on the scene? Logan thought back to when that was. But it looked like he’d been taking pictures of her longer than that. However, the text messages started the day after the accident. They’d suspected Daryl because of the timing, but clearly they’d been mistaken.

Logan shook his head and reached out toward the pictures of AJ but didn’t touch them. This man had violated his wife’s privacy. A monster raged inside of Logan, wanting to come out and avenge AJ’s honor. Lord, keep this monster in check.

They continued their search and left. They didn’t want to talk about next steps knowing Miles had cameras in the house. They’d found a few but hadn’t searched specifically enough to know if they got them all or not.

In the car, Adam and Amelia both turned to Logan. Adam asked, “Are there any locations that connect Miles and AJ?”

“We all went to high school together and were in the same friend circle. I doubt he’d take her to the high school. It’s Friday, and school is in session.” He thought through anything that might have been significant to Miles other than the gym where he’d gone to the dance with AJ. “The asylum. Enzweiler. We used to play Capture the Flag there all the time.”

Zara. After her ordeal a month and a half ago, she’d not be ready to face the idea of Enzweiler again. But he hadn’t called her or Will yet.

Amelia broke into his thoughts. “It’s worth checking out. I’ll get us some back up.”

“I need to call Will and Zara.”

Adam drove while Amelia radioed for backup.

Logan took out his phone and dialed Will’s number.

Will answered with a groggy voice. “Why aren’t you still sleeping?”

“Because AJ’s been taken.”

“What?”

“Miles is her stalker and took her this morning.”

“Miles? Seriously? Mild-mannered Miles?”

“That’s the one. Apparently he’s a sociopath. He’s been following AJ for a while.”

“And he took her?”

Logan gritted his teeth. “Are you listening to anything I say?”

“Sorry. Processing.”

“We’re headed over to the asylum to see if he took her there.”

“Have you checked your app for her phone?”