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Jake hesitates before he answers. “Four. Someone else went missing a couple of weeks ago.”

“What? You never said anything about it.”

He has the decency to look contrite. “I didn’t want to add more stress to an already stressful and demanding situation.”

Chief Malone clears his throat. “No, it’s only three. The last one turned up yesterday. She had a fight with her boyfriend and was hiding out with a friend. I didn’t have a chance to update you.”

I sigh. “I’ll look for clues in the other stuff then. Thanks, Chief. Jake will let you know if I find anything.” Did I just dismiss the chief of police in his own station? Yes, I did.

His brows go up, but he doesn’t say anything else before he leaves. It’s just Jake and me in his office. And a growing mountain of guilt. While I was with him, Lynn was alone, and this asshole probably knew it. He took her to get back at me for finding the other two women.

I push away the dread. I need a clear mind for this. “Let’s look at the rest of the evidence.”

Chapter53

Avalon

The massive headacheand pressure behind my eyes are finally starting to ease. Thanks to the pain meds and veggie burger Jake forced on me a couple of hours ago. I wish Grandma were here. She might be able to see more than me. Which was nothing. Nothing that can aid us in finding Lynn. Just more random images of this asshole charming women and then taking them. How can he be so convincing? They all seem to trust him. All except the girl in the bowling alley. Is it a small-town thing? Are people more trusting? Or is it something else? If he’s really a cop, that could be a reason, too. But if he’s a cop, I must have seen him more than once. As often as I visit the station, all of them know me or know of me.

I push a hand into my chest and rub at the never-ending ache. If he’s a cop, he could be out there right now, laughing at us, maybe even sabotaging our efforts to locate her.

The reflection in the ladies’ room mirror as I wash my hands reveals pale skin and red-rimmed eyes. My hair is messy from how often I’ve run my hands through it. I shake the excess water from my hands and try to tame my curls the best I can.

The bathroom door opens, and Jake enters. He looks me over from head to toe.

I try for a smile and fail. “You’re in the wrong bathroom, you know.”

He stuffs his hands in his jeans’ pockets. “No, I’m in the right place.”

“What if someone else comes in?”

Jake shrugs. “I asked Diane to watch the door. No one will come in.”

“Diane?”

“The cop who sat with you in the hallway this morning. Do you remember her?”

I nod. My head is still in a fog. It's no wonder I can't see anything of value when I examine the evidence. I can barely remember anything since leaving Jake's house and returning to the apartment. The woman who sat next to me on the floor is only a vague memory.

I grab a paper towel and dry my hands.

Jake leans on the wall a couple of feet away from me. “How are you holding up?”

I muster enough energy to lift one shoulder and try for another smile that doesn’t quite make it. “I’m okay.”

His lips press into a thin line. “No. How are you, really?”

The sincerity and care in his mismatched eyes reach me and pull at the last string holding me together. My lips tremble, and tears wash down my cheeks like a waterfall.

He comes to me, pulls me into his chest, and tucks my head under his chin. Jake combs my hair with his fingers. “That’s it. Let it all out. You don’t have to keep it all inside. If you hold it all in, it’ll blow up when you least expect. Got to release the pressure now and then.”

I hold on to him and let myself fall apart, crying onto his chest until his shirt is soaked, all the while he rubs soothing circles on my back.

“I’m good now.” Pulling away, I go to the sink and wash my face. When I look at my reflection in the mirror, I’m not alone. There’s also a young woman—a teenager—and her hands movein a come with memotion.

“Jake?”

“Yeah?”