Chapter 40
Naomi’s mind raced.
If Good Boy was in Cooperstown—if this Gary Lee Foster had taken him there—then maybe she could find him.
“I want to go with you,” she announced. “To find Good Boy.”
Micah’s jaw tightened. “Naomi—”
“Good Boy is out there somewhere, Micah. With someone who lied to get him. With someone who most likely had an agenda.” Her voice rose with urgency. “We can’t just leave him.”
“I’m not leaving him. I’m going to handle this. But you’re not coming with me.”
“Why not?” Naomi realized she sounded wounded as she asked the question. But she hadn’t expected Micah to be so adamant.
“Because I don’t know what I’m walking into, and I’m not bringing you into a situation that could be dangerous.”
Naomi opened her mouth to argue, but Micah cut her off.
“I’ll go to the address and check it out. If the dog’s there, I’ll bring him back.” His expression softened slightly. “But you stay here. With Grace. Where it’s safe.”
Naomi wanted to push back. Wanted to insist that she could help, that she had a right to be there.
But the look on Micah’s face told her he wouldn’t budge.
“Fine,” she finally said. “When are you going?”
“Now. As soon as I—”
His radio crackled to life, cutting him off. “All units, we have a 10-50 on Route 9, near Mile Marker 14. Multiple vehicles involved. Possible injuries. Requesting all available units to respond.”
Micah’s expression shifted, and he grabbed the radio from his belt. “This is Sheriff Sutherland. I’m ten minutes out.”
Naomi’s gut tightened as she listened.
He looked back at Naomi, not bothering to hide his frustration. “Listen, I’m sorry. But I have to go do this first.”
“I know . . .” She tried to hide her disappointment and frustration, but she knew she failed.
“You stay here. I’ll check on the dog as soon as I can.” Micah hesitated, like he wanted to say something else. Instead, he pushed open the door and stepped out.
Naomi unbuckled Grace’s car seat and climbed out after him, hooking the carrier on her arm.
Micah paused in front of her. “I mean it, Naomi. Stay here. Don’t do anything until I get back.”
“I heard you.”
He held her gaze a beat longer then nodded and climbed back into his SUV.
A moment later, he was gone.
Naomi stood there, watching him disappear around the curve.
Her mind already raced ahead to Cooperstown. To the address Micah had read off his phone. To Good Boy, wherever he was.
Thirty miles. Less than an hour’s drive.
She could go. She could find him. She could bring Good Boy back before Micah even finished with the accident scene.
After all, every second counted. It could mean the difference between finding Good Boy or not finding him.
However, she knew that looking for the dog herself was a terrible idea.
Micah had told her not to. Had told her to stay here, where it was safe.
But Good Boy wasn’t safe.
And every minute that passed was another minute he was with someone who’d lied to get him. Someone who might hurt him.
Naomi couldn’t just sit here and wait.
The drive to Cooperstown felt both too long and too short.
Naomi’s hands gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, her pulse hammering in her ears.
She knew this was a bad idea.
Knew Micah would be furious when he found out.
But she couldn’t turn back.
Her mom had offered to watch Grace, and Naomi had told her she needed to run into town to do some errands.
She’d be smart about this. She simply wanted to see if Good Boy was at the address or not.
She wouldn’t confront anyone. She’d stay in the background.
But if Good Boy happened to see her and come running, Naomi wouldn’t hesitate to rescue him. She knew that most likely wouldn’t happen. That would be too easy. Yet part of her remained hopeful that might actually happen. That she could grab the dog and go.
Finally, the GPS announced she was a quarter mile from her destination, and Naomi slowed, scanning the road ahead.
412 Maple Ridge Road.
A mailbox appeared on her right—a rusted metal box leaning slightly to one side, the numbers barely visible. A gravel driveway stretched beyond it, disappearing into the trees.
She knew better than to turn down the drive.
Instead, Naomi drove past, her mind racing.
A hundred yards down the road, she spotted a narrow strip of dirt where loggers or hunters might park. She turned in, pulled as far off as she could, and cut the engine.
For a moment, she sat there, staring at the trees.
What are you doing?
The voice in her head sounded like Micah’s. Telling her this was reckless. That she should wait. That she should call him.
Then she heard the sound of a dog barking somewhere in the distance.
Her pulse quickened.
Was that Good Boy?
The noise sealed her decision.
She needed to find out.
But she would be smart about this.