Page 84 of Still Afraid

Buck and Gabe came into the squad room at the same time. Buck spoke. “Apparently we have two pieces of news. Gabe, you go first.”

“The truck was found at Fort Dickerson Park.”

“Chloe?” Josh’s heart pounded fiercely against his ribs.

Gabe shook his head. “Just the truck. Report said the driver’s side door was left open.” He met Josh’s gaze. “Can Poirot come look? We’ve got multiple units responding, ready to start searching the park and quarry.”

“Poirot will find her if she’s there.”

“Let’s go. I’ll drive you over.”

Buck reached out and put a hand on Gabe’s chest before he could move. “Remember I have information too. Though now I think I should have gone first.”

The excitement from Gabe’s news fizzled, and a heaviness seemed to blanket everyone. Something about Buck’s tone told them what he had to say wasn’t positive. What could it be?

Buck took in a deep breath as if bracing himself for their reaction. “Given the situation, I went to the lab and made them put a rush on the fingerprint found at Chloe’s house on the hide-a-key. That individual has a criminal record.” He paused.

Troy said, “Spit it out, Darius.”

“It’s Aaron.”

Silence.

Josh shook his head. “That can’t be right. Aaron?”

Bonnie held her hand to her mouth but didn’t protest.

“Someone else probably took her then. He wouldn’t hurt her.” Josh didn’t want to believe it.

Resignation ruled Jesse’s and Gabe’s faces.

Buck nodded. “I’m sorry. Fingerprints recovered at your place last night were also Aaron’s. DNA from the blood will take longer to confirm.”

Josh took a step back. He’d been ready to shoot the intruder in his house last night. What if he had shot Aaron? The idea made him sick.

Buck pressed his index finger into Josh’s chest. “You didn’t know it was him, and you didn’t shoot. We’re gonna find them, and everybody is going to be fine.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“Maybe, but I’m going to do everything in my power to make that happen.”

Bonnie came over to Josh and pulled him into a hug. He wordlessly squeezed her back.

When he released her, Gabe asked, “Are you ready, Josh?”

Bonnie said, “Not before you hug me too.” She embraced Gabe.

Josh turned to Troy and handed him the keys to his house. “Why don’t you guys make yourselves at home at my place, and I’ll join you, hopefully with Chloe, soon.”

Troy nodded and took the keys.

“Come on, Poirot. Let’s go find Chloe.”

He barked and followed Josh and Gabe out of the squad room.

Chloe and Aaron had tried to put the zip-cuffs on without tightening them all the way, but Richard had been sure to yank them tight. He strapped them in with the seat belts across their arms, making escape impossible. He drove them across town with one hand on the wheel, the other on his gun.

He’d parked behind a shopping center, then forced them to go inside a store through the back door. Once inside, he’d made them sit in folding chairs in a large stockroom.