CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Gage slowed the treadmill and wiped sweat from his face. He needed to burn energy after sitting through a two-hour meeting. There was also the hope he could get his brain to focus. No such luck. Even when he was working, his thoughts kept circling back to Melanie.
Melanie. His girlfriend. His first in years, and if he had any say, his last.
They’d planned to work separately through the morning, then touch base before she met up with Chase Bradford in town. Which sounded reasonable except he’d woken up missing her.
They’d shared his bed for all of two hours yesterday, and already it felt empty without her. He wanted more. He wanted her. He wanted Addy. In his house, in his life. For good.
He’d come to terms with that truth. Now he had to hope Melanie wanted the same. This thing between them was so new and they still had to figure things out. What commitment would mean, how to build a life together. But he was all in.
Done with the treadmill, he capped his water bottle, chuckling when Pancake jumped. She scared herself with her own farts.
They climbed the stairs from the basement.
He flicked on lights as he went. A glance through the kitchen window showed Melanie’s car gone from her driveway and storm clouds piling up over the mountains.
Maybe she’d gone grocery shopping ahead of Esme’s visit tomorrow.
Not that she had to check in every time she ran into town.
Thunder echoed off the mountain, and Pancake whimpered. A feeling of unease slithered up his spine.
He pulled out his phone, and it vibrated in his hand, the screen lighting up with a call from an unknown number.
“Landry.”
“It’s Paul Bukowski, Mel’s stepdad. You seen her or her mom?”
Gage stood straighter. The uneasy feeling ratcheted up several notches.
“No, what’s going on?”
“Neither of them are answering their phones. Donna drives a blue van. You see it in Mel’s driveway?”
He didn’t need to check. “No van. Melanie’s car is gone too.”
“Damn. I’m on my way back from Sacramento. I’ll be home in twenty minutes.”
“Why the alarm, Paul?”
“Got a call from the animal shelter where Donna volunteers,” Paul said. “She didn’t show up for her shift this morning and she’s not answering her phone. I thought Mel might’ve heard from her, but calls to both of them go straight to message.”
The unease ratcheted up, tugging at Gage’s gut, and experience told him to listen.
He put the phone on speaker so he could swipe through screens. Fuck. He’d missed a call from Melanie when he’d been working out. She’d left a text.
He read it quickly and swore under his breath. “Melanie texted she’s on her way to the Lockwood Mill to help Donna,” Gage told Paul.
“Lockwood Mill? Why is Donna there? And help her with what?”
“She doesn’t say. I don’t like this. They’ve got no business going out to that mill, especially when there’s a storm brewing. I’m calling Sawyer. I might be jumping the gun, but I don’t care. You’re worried about Donna. And with the threats Melanie’s been getting, I’m not taking any chances.”
“I’m heading home to see if Donna left a note,” Paul said, strain evident in his voice.
“Good. I’ll stay in touch,” Gage told him.
He tried Melanie’s number again. It went straight to voicemail.
Phone on speaker as it rang Sawyer’s cell, Gage moved swiftly through the house. He grabbed his Glock from the safe, clipping it to his waistband, and snagged a pair of handcuffs.
“Something’s going on with Melanie and her mom,” Gage said the minute Sawyer picked up. He laid out the situation as he knew it. He didn’t have to convince Sawyer of the urgency.
“I’ll call a team together to go up to the mill.
That place is derelict—those women shouldn’t be anywhere near it,” Sawyer said, his words clipped.
“But there’s something else. Chase Bradford was picked up last night.
DUI. We held him in a cell overnight to sober up.
Guy was a fucking mess. Wouldn’t stop mouthing off. ”
“What about?”
“Beth Guerrero was the arresting officer. She reports he railed against a whole list of people who’d ruined his life. You topped the list. Called you the ‘FBI fuck-hole.’”
Gage rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Did he mention Melanie?”
“Beth said he ranted about ‘bitches’ screwing him over. Could’ve meant Mel, his ex, or even Beth.”
Gage tossed Pancake a biscuit and grabbed his keys. “He get out?”
“Yeah, this morning. Released on his own recognizance. His old man took him home.”
“We need to know where he is,” Gage ground out. He didn’t know how Bradford could be involved with whatever Melanie was up to, but he didn’t trust the bastard.
“I’ll call the bank, see if he’s at work,” Sawyer said. “If he’s not, I’ll send a unit out to check his house. I’ll breathe easier once we’ve got eyes on him.”
“You think he’s gone off the deep end and done something stupid?” Gage questioned.
“Don’t know. He’s a loose cannon, and I don’t like that now we’ve got two women who’ve gone off-grid. I have Mel’s number and I’ll authorize a cell tower ping. I want to know where she’s at, and I’m not wasting time on a warrant.”
“I’ll have Paul send you Donna’s number. Ping hers too.”
“Will do. I’ll call back as soon as I get something.”
Gage ended the call. He was anxious to get on the road. His head jerked up when Shane’s pickup pulled into his driveway. He headed outside, locking the door behind him.
Gage punched the code into his garage door, motioning to Shane when he stepped out of his truck. “You’re coming with me.”
“I dropped by to get that router you’re lending me. What’s going on?”
Gage told him as they pulled out onto the street.
“Shit,” Shane muttered. “The Lockwood Mill’s been abandoned for over a decade. What would make those women go up there?”
Gage shook his head as he used the screen on the dash to call Ashley, Jordy and Olivia’s mom.
“Hey, Ash. Can Addy stay with you if Melanie’s not there when the bus drops her off?”
“Of course,” Ashley said without hesitation. “Is everything okay?”
“I hope so. I’ll explain later. Thanks.” He hung up, grateful for the help.
He picked up first ring when Sawyer called. “You find anything?”
“Yeah,” Sawyer said. “Cell phone pings show both women heading northeast on Route 22. Donna first, around nine. Melanie followed the same road about forty minutes later.”
“That’s a road that’ll take them to the mill?”
“Yeah,” Sawyer replied. “Last pings for both phones are off a tower west of the Lockwood Mill turnoff. Less than three miles out. Signal dropped after that. If their phones are still on, we might get another hit if they come back in range.” He paused. “There’s been interest in the mill lately.”
“Tell me.” Gage figured the more information he had, the better he could fit the puzzle pieces together.
“The Lockwood family tried to hang on in the early nineties. Took out loans to modernize but couldn’t make their payments.
Ended up losing everything. Interesting note,” Sawyer added, “the family still owns the land, including a lake at the end of the valley. Josh Lockwood recently put together financing through Sierra Valley Bank to tear down the mill and build a hunting lodge and cabins.”
“Not sure how that fits in, but I’m on my way there. Shane’s with me.”
“Good. I’ll follow soon as I get my team together. In the meantime, I’m sending cruisers to check both Bradfords’ homes. I want to know where they are.” Sawyer’s voice dropped a notch. “Be safe, brother. Storm’s blowing in.”
***
The flashlight beam caught the dull glint of a gun barrel pointed at Melanie. She froze. Her pulse thundered in her ears at the voice. Not identifiable, but not a man’s. A woman’s.
“Where’s my mother?” she demanded.
“Safe. For now,” came the reply, cold and steady.
Melanie’s heart stuttered. The figure stepped forward into the flashlight’s shaky beam. Her hair was a tangled mess, her blazer torn at the sleeve, dirt smudging one cheek. Rhonda Lockwood.
Melanie reeled. “You?”
Rhonda’s eyes glittered. “All your questions. All your poking around. You couldn’t leave well enough alone.”
Melanie stared at her, stunned. All this time they’d thought Chase the threat. But it had been Rhonda, playing them all.
“Did you hurt her?”
“No more than I had to. She’s in there.” The gun jerked toward a dark doorway. “That’s where you’re going. Move it.”
Melanie stepped into the room. She felt the gun trained on her back like the tip of an icepick poking her. Her senses were primed for a shot that would send a bullet ripping through her body. Cold as it was, sweat trickled down her spine.
In the dim light, she swept the flashlight beam across a broken desk and an overturned chair, then landed on Donna. She sat slumped against the wall, zip ties binding her wrists and ankles, a filthy rag gagging her mouth. Her eyes were wide and scared.
Ignoring the hissed threat to stop, Melanie rushed forward and tugged the gag free. Donna licked her lips.
“Are you hurt?” Melanie whispered.
“No.” Her gaze darted over Melanie’s shoulder. “But I don’t know how we’re getting out of this.”
She rose slowly to her feet. Rhonda stood about five feet away.
Melanie forced her breathing to slow and tried to think clearly.
She couldn’t let fear keep her from acting, from doing what was needed to save her mom and herself.
She wished Gage were there. His steady presence anchored her, helped calm her fears so she could function.
If she was with him, they could take on any challenge.
“Get on the floor,” Rhonda ordered. “Once I’ve got you tied up, we wait.”
Melanie inched forward. She needed to close the distance.
“You don’t want to do this. You haven’t shot anyone.” She gestured with her hand, hoping to draw Rhonda’s focus. “There’s still time to make a different choice.”
Without any change in expression, Rhonda pulled the trigger. The gunshot pierced the air.
Donna screamed and Melanie lurched back, the flashlight flying from her hand and clattering across the floor.