Page 69 of Roughing
“Drive around to the alley.”
“Sure.” Briggs piloted the large truck down the narrow alley and stopped behind the building. All the visible windows were dark.
“His car is here.” I noted the black Prius. “Pull up next to it.”
Briggs frowned, not entirely comfortable with my request, but he slid his truck next to the Prius. “What if he sees us? You can’t tell if he’s looking out a window.”
“If that’s the case, he’s seen us already.” I hopped out before he had an opportunity to protest and peeked in the windows of the car. There was something on the passenger floorboard that caught my eye. I turned on my phone’s flashlight. It was a woman’s Coach purse. I racked my brain to recall the purse Trelika had been carrying the last time I’d seen her. I noticed fashion, especially when it was something I liked. She’d had a turquoise Coach tote bag—
—just like this one.
My blood ran cold, and I froze, unable to process any information beyond what was in front of my face. Right up until this very moment, part of me hadn’t believed Desmond was capable of such acts. Now I knew better.
With a shaking hand, I fumbled to open the Camera app on my phone and shot a quick picture of the purse. Frightened to the very depths of my soul, I hurried to the car and got back inside, locking my door.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I think I have. There’s a purse on the floorboard of the passenger side. It’s the same color and type of purse Trelika was carrying when we met her.” I held up the image.
Briggs’s expression didn’t change other than a clenched jaw. “Let’s get some distance and call Carla. If Desmond sees us, he might kill his captive and cut his losses.”
I nodded. Briggs left the alley and parked a block or so down the street in a deserted parking lot. He pulled to the back so his truck would be partially concealed by shadows. We had a view of the alley and the front of the building. We should be able to see Desmond leaving as long as he didn’t go the opposite direction. The quickest way to the freeway was past us. If he wanted to escape or dispose of evidence, he’d most likely choose the fastest option.
“What do we do now?” Briggs waited for my next instructions, and I appreciated the faith he placed in my judgment, considering he was a bit of a control freak.
“I’m calling Carla.” I tapped on her number and waited for her to answer. The phone went straight to voice mail after one ring. I left a quick message telling her to call me back as soon as possible and also a text in case she never checked voice mail like me.
“Not answering?”
I nodded and texted the image of the purse to Carla.
“Now what?”
“We wait. She’ll call back soon. I’m sure of it.” As I was finishing my sentence, the phone rang. I filled Carla in on what we’d found.
“Where are you now?” she asked.
“We’re down the block where we have a view of the alley entrance and the street in front of the Uni.”
“Don’t move. Not one inch. Neither of you. But call immediately if circumstances change. Just hang tight.”
“Okay.” My throat constricted with fear. Every second we waited was one less second Trelika might have in this world.
Briggs and I exchanged glances. He took my hand in his large one and squeezed it. “I know you want to take action, and so do I, but we can’t. Neither of us is equipped to handle this situation, and our interference could jeopardize Trelika’s life.”
“Or we could save her.”
He gave me one of those looks.
I put my head on his shoulder, drawing comfort from this strong, enigmatic man, and wondered how I’d ever be able to break up with him. Or if I should.
ChapterTwenty-Four
ARRESTED
~~Briggs~~
Iwas a hockey player, not a first responder.
