The next morning, after breakfast, Sienna said goodbye to Colby and thank you to Rick and Trina, and she took off with Devin to find out more information on Lisa Daniel. It had been wonderful to get a full night’s rest without the worry of danger lingering too close for comfort. The warm meals, clean laundry and good company had also been a nice change of pace.
But last night’s warning remained in her head. More people were going to die. And they were going to die because Sienna wouldn’t give up Colby to the predator who was after him.
Her feelings were so mixed. She did feel guilty that other people were getting hurt. She never wanted to see that. Yet she knew she was doing the right thing. She couldn’t let an innocent child be taken.
She only prayed Colby would be safe until they returned. Based on everything Sienna had seen at the Jennings Center, he would be. It would be extremely difficult for anyone to get past the security they had there.
“Are you okay?” Devin reached over and squeezed her arm, a look of concern in his eyes as he headed down the road.
Sienna nodded but the tension between her choices was tearing her apart inside.
“I guess,” she finally said. “I just feel so guilty.”
“That’s the safest place Colby can be,” Devin said. “I’m only sorry I didn’t think about it earlier.”
Please, Lord, help this to be the right choice.
Devin glanced at his GPS. “According to the map, we’re only about forty-five minutes away from Lisa’s place.”
She glanced behind her. “Have you seen anyone following us?”
“Not a soul. I think we’re in the clear.”
“That would be amazing.” Sienna stared out the window at the wooded landscape all around her. It was breathtakingly beautiful. If only she could enjoy it instead of being immersed in this tornado of trouble. “No update on the body that was found?”
“No, no update. Like I said, it’s going to be difficult to ID the victim. The body was burned so badly that there are no fingerprints.”
“There’s got to be a way to find some answers.” The police cracked cases like this all the time…didn’t they? There had to be a way.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if the police put out a press release on her, hoping someone can identify her,” Devin said. “The tricky part is that, if Anita is alive and if she’s in danger, we don’t want to draw attention to her. The balance is difficult.”
“I guess the police will make that call.”
“They will.” Devin took another sip of his coffee. Rick and Trina had let them borrow their travel mugs. Sometimes it was the small things in life that he appreciated the most. “And we have to trust them on it.”
She glanced back out the window again, noting how the sun was climbing higher and higher. “Anita said don’t trust the police.”
“I know. There’s still so much we don’t know. Let’s follow this lead with Lisa and see what we can find out. It might not be anything. Or it could be everything.”
Sienna gripped her own coffee mug, her thoughts heavy. “I can’t imagine what Lisa could have found out concerning Anita. Especially since her friend Jared said it could be a life-changing piece of journalism.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, at first, I assumed maybe she recognized Anita, and Anita didn’t want to be recognized because she’s running from her ex. But that doesn’t fit with the life-changing part. I mean, it would change Anita’s life, for sure. But journalism is generally a bigger story than that, you know?”
“I agree,” Devin said. “Maybe there’s more to this story, and we’re just scratching the surface here.”
“Maybe we are.” Sienna leaned back, trying to gain control of her thoughts before they turned into full-fledged anxiety.
“I think you’re doing great here, Sienna.” Devin cast a kind smile at her.
Hearing the sincerity in his voice brought a flush of warmth across her skin. He’d been kind to her yesterday as well when she’d started rambling. Jackson could never stand that about her. If she rambled, it drove him crazy until he finally blew a gasket. He’d become a different person once they started dating, but she’d assumed it was the stress of starting a new job and a new life.
She knew it had to be a lot of pressure for him with all the big life changes that were taking place all at once. But she’d been going through a lot of life changes herself, and she hadn’t acted like a jerk as a result.
Looking back, it was a blessing that he’d called off the wedding. It had just taken her a while to see it.
“Thanks,” Sienna finally said. “I feel like a mess.”
“I can’t tell by looking at you.”
“I just want what’s best for Colby, you know?”
“Yeah, I do.” The wistfulness in his voice caused a pang to rush through her.
Was Devin thinking of his own daughter? His wife? Sienna couldn’t even imagine what he’d been through or how hard losing both a wife and child would be. It explained why he’d acted so distant. The man was grieving after his life had been upended.
“Here’s Lisa’s place.” Devin pulled up to a small cottage nestled in an older neighborhood on the outskirts of Denver. “You ready for this?”
“I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
* * *
Devin pounded on the door to Lisa’s home and waited.
He hoped—for Colby and Sienna’s sakes—they’d find some answers.
But since Lisa wasn’t answering her phone and her friend hadn’t seen her in two days, he was anxious to see if she’d be here.
Just as he expected, there was nothing.
“What now?” Sienna turned toward him, her lips pulling down in a frown.
He glanced around, looking for any neighbors who might be peering out their windows, looking nosy. Sometimes they could be the best sources of information.
He didn’t have to look too hard, because a car pulled up just then and a man hopped out, waddling their way with urgency in his steps.
The man was short and pudgy, and a huge set of keys dangled at his belt. His outfit—a dirty blue button-up shirt and matching slacks—gave the impression that he was a handyman or janitor.
“You looking for Lisa?” the man asked, rushing past them toward the door.
The name tag on his shirt read “Frank.”
“We are,” Devin said. “Have you seen her?”
The man paused and looked at both Devin and Sienna over. “I work with a company that manages this rental. I’ve been looking for her also. I have someone coming in to work on her AC, and she won’t answer my texts.”
“How long have you been trying to contact her?” Devin asked.
“Two days. And no answer. I can’t believe it. She was the one who was so concerned about this AC and the fact that it was going to start getting hotter and hotter outside.”
The two days fit the time frame they’d already established.
Devin reached into his pocket and pulled out his badge. “I’m FBI. I need to get into the house concerning an investigation.”
Frank turned from annoyed to worried. “Of course. Is everything okay?”
“We hope so,” Devin said. “We just want to confirm that.”
“Then so be it.” Frank looked through his inventory of keys, unlocked the door and shoved it open. “Be my guest.”
Devin motioned for Sienna to wait outside while he checked out the interior. With his gun in hand, he made his way into the living room and surveyed the simple but well-decorated space. It seemed to fit the image of Lisa Daniel he had in his mind.
The house was clear.
So far.
Devin continued past the living room and into the kitchen and dining room.
Nothing gave any indication that a struggle had happened here. Everything was in place and neat, almost like the woman had been planning a photo shoot later. He wondered if Lisa always kept her place this way. He’d have to ask Frank, just in case it was important.
As Devin started down the hall toward the bedrooms, he saw movement. He raised his gun just as a figure darted from the hallway.
His heart rate surged.
Someone was in the house. Someone dressed in all black and with a ski mask.
The intruder pushed past him, throwing Devin temporarily off balance.
As Devin straightened, the man was already at the door. If Devin took a shot now, he might hit Sienna or Frank.
He couldn’t risk that.
Instead, Devin took off after the man, determined to catch him and finally get some answers.
He stepped out just in time to see the intruder brush past Sienna. She flew back into the door frame, her eyes widening in alarm.
Devin continued forward, pausing for just long enough to ask Sienna, “Are you okay?”
She looked shaken but she nodded. “Yes. Don’t worry about me. Go get him.”
Devin’s leg muscles burned as he pushed himself across the lawn. The man had already hit the street.
He’d had a head start. Maybe too much of a head start.
But Devin was fast. He knew that. Maybe he could catch him.
That man had been in Lisa’s house for a reason. Devin needed to figure out what that reason was. The easiest way? It would be by catching this guy and asking him face-to-face. He was tired of all of these guessing games.
Devin’s muscles continued to strain as he rushed across the grass to the sidewalk. The man reached the other side of the street and kept going.
Devin’s foot hit the asphalt, about to cross the road. As he did, a car appeared out of nowhere, headed right toward him. The bumper hit the side of Devin’s thigh as the vehicle screeched to a stop.
Devin ignored the pain pulsing through him and skirted around the car. He couldn’t afford to take his eyes off the intruder, and he couldn’t let an injury slow him up. He would deal with that later.
Who was this guy? Devin quickly studied him as he pushed himself forward. The man was dressed in all black from head to toe. He appeared to be fairly fit. On the taller side.
It was clear the man was desperate. Totally desperate as he ran away, his motions scattered and frantic.
Just as the man reached the next block, a maroon-colored car squealed to a stop at the curb. The man opened the door and jumped inside. Before Devin could reach them, the car accelerated away.
Devin stopped there on the corner and sucked in several deep breaths as he watched the car disappear. He would have gotten the plate numbers, but the plates were gone.
But a woman sat in the driver’s seat.
Had that been Lisa? Or Anita? Or was it someone totally different?
He had no idea. But right now, he needed to check on Sienna and try to figure out what that man was trying to retrieve from the house.