Chapter Eighty

When the police brought up the footage from the elevator, Colton was sure he was screwed, but fortunately their passion paid off. With his face stuck to Angel’s, her appearance was hidden enough she wasn’t identifiable. The angle of the camera only showed her back and his hands on her ass.

“What’s that?” One of the detectives pointed toward the screen.

Colton thought he might vomit. He leaned closer to see what the man was pointing at.

“A tattoo,” the other man said. “I’ll zoom in on it.”

It was the fake tattoo Angel had put on her shoulder for the wedding. A tree. Oh, thank God. This might be the break Colton needed.

“Um. It’s a tree. I saw it when I was…you know…behind,” he offered with a crooked grin.

“Does Angel Larson have a tree tattoo on her shoulder?” the detective asked another officer holding her wanted poster.

“It says no tattoos. Multiple scars.”

“Did this woman have scars?” the detective asked Colton.

“Not that I saw.” This was true. He didn’t see her scars anymore. They were such a part of her, he didn’t notice them. “She had a lip ring. I know because it got caught on my junk. You want to see?” Colton reached for the button on his jeans and all the cops put up their hands.

“No. That’s okay. I think we’re done here.”

“So it wasn’t her?” He frowned. “Well, shit. That would have been a hell of a story to tell my friends.”

“You’re free to go, Mr. Willis. I’ll have someone drive you back to your motel.”

“Okay. Thanks.” When Colton stood, Pudge jumped up from his spot in the corner where he’d been snoring.

Colton kept his pace casual as he waved to the officer who’d dropped him off. Inside the motel, he pushed the floor number six times in a row in an effort to make the elevator hurry.

“Please let her be there, please let her be there,” he chanted as he swiped the keycard with shaking hands.

The door opened and he hurried out to the balcony.

Nothing.

“Angel?” he called as he checked the bathroom. It only took ten seconds to verify she wasn’t there, either.

“Come on, boy.” He took Pudge back outside and told him to find Angel. The shepherd’s nose went up in the air, then down to the ground as he moved around the building on a mission. He stopped at the place where Colton had parked earlier when he went inside to get the room.

“Find her, boy. Please find her.”

Pudge turned in a circle, barked, and sat down. This was where the trail stopped.

Damn it.

She was gone.