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“No problem.” She fished her keys from her purse and searched for her Jetta. “Did my mom say what exactly is going on?” All the things that could go wrong in a pregnancy shot through her mind.

“No, but she sounded panicked.”

She cringed. Her mother’s calm and collected demeanor flew out the window when danger threatened one of her kids. Allye couldn’t blame her. None of them were prepared to lose another family member, even one they hadn’t met yet. She finally spotted her car—three rows from where she thought she’d left it. She redirected them. As they walked, she looked toward the lane leading to a side road. Traffic was backed up as far as she could see on the way into the festival area, but the road out was clear.

“Are you sure you want to go with me? I’m probably okay in my car, and I can call Mom to meet me when I get to the hospital.”

Wesley shook his head. “No guarantee of that. You know what happened to Corina when that stalker was after her.”

A shiver ran through her. He was right, but she couldn’t help another protest. “I hate to pull you away from time with your family. I know Hailey’s been looking forward to today.”

“She’ll understand.”

Yeah, she would, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be disappointed.

“She’d rather you be safe than have our afternoon uninterrupted,” he said as if reading her mind. “I’ll get an Uber back to Kincaid after you’re settled and take Hailey out to dinner. We’ll be okay.”

Accept help.She pulled in a breath as they reached her Jetta. “Okay. Thank you.” She stashed her cashbox under the driver’s seat and climbed in.

Wesley checked his phone.

“Anything new?”

He shook his head. “No. Just letting Hailey know what’s going on. Signal’s low, so it probably won’t go through until we hit the main roads.” He tapped out a message as she started the car.

“Tell her I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, Allye. Really.”

“Thank you.”

She retrieved her phone from her purse. Had Eric found her note yet? No notifications had come through, but she still had only one bar flickering in and out. She opened her text messages.

The phone was snatched from her hands.

“Hey!” She looked up as Wesley tossed her phone out the window. “What are you—”

The back passenger door popped open, interrupting her. A man slid inside. Her stomach bottomed out as she recognized the attacker from outside her studio.

He smirked at her. “Hello.”

She plunged her hand toward her seat belt release, but Wesley caught her wrist. She stilled at sight of the gun in his other hand.

41

Eric balanced a bottleof Snapple peach tea and two brisket sundaes on top of a take-out style box from the food vendors. The lines had been long, as usual. But brisket sundaes and homestyle french fries were totally worth it.

Weaving his way through the crowds, he was headed back toward Tent B when a booming voice called his name. He turned to see Chief McHenry approaching him.

“I hear there was another disturbance at Allye Jessup’s. What happened?”

Eric gave him the short version.

“Not good. Any evidence?”

He blew out a breath. “Not enough. A possible DNA specimen or two, and he left his gun behind.”

“Description?”