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Taking her car to the middle of nowhere where it wouldn’t be found couldn’t happen.

Not when she’d been expected at work and people might be concerned and looking for her.

He didn’t trust anyone in this shithole of a town to pick him up anywhere.

And really, that would be damn suspicious.

The town’s dentist stranded with no vehicle. Even a damn cab company would talk.

Sweat rolled over his cheek and he dashed it away. He needed to pick up more chains from the hardware store, but he couldn’t go to the one in town. With Hanna, he’d been prepared and had had them ready. He’d have to take a drive and get them tomorrow.

He kept to the side streets as best he could.

By now, Ethan would be looking for her and would soon check his house.

He picked up his pace. He couldn’t miss that opportunity.

In a normal situation, he’d stop somewhere, let half the town see his face so he would have an alibi when they questioned him.

With the three small scratches under his eye from Riley’s damn fingernails, he couldn’t do that.

He’d covered his cheek with a small piece of gauze and ointment, but it looked suspicious as hell.

She’d pay for that.

Better yet, Hanna would.

A tremor of delight moved over him. He shoved his hands in his pocket and strode through the bustling streets. The summer months always brought an influx of tourists, which meant delicious young bodies squeezed into itty-bitty swimsuits.

A young woman sat on a bench, her head tilted back on a laugh.

Her skin was dark against the fluorescent strapless bikini top and shorts.

He forced his gaze to the sidewalk and tucked his chin.

He had Hanna and Riley, a third would be too many at once.

The young woman lifted her sunglasses from her eyes.

Her brow furrowed at him. She leaned toward her friend next to her and whispered something.

Heat crept up the back of his neck as he looked behind him. A young, shirtless man strode toward the women.

His shoulders relaxed. He never got paranoid.

Paranoia could screw him—everything—up. His footsteps quickened as he turned down the sidewalk to his street.

In the busy main streets, he’d blended in with the crowd.

On his quiet street, everyone knew who he was.

As he got closer, his eyes narrowed. A big, black sedan sat at the curb in front of his house.

Two tall figures stormed down Riley’s front steps and toward Ethan’s house.

Yes, yes, yes.

This was his chance. He’d wait for them to enter the property, and then place the call.

He’d covered all of his bases. If Ethan had entered while he was disposing of the car, all Ethan would have to do is turn on the light switch and the house would go up in flames.

But on the off chance he went to the blinds first, Michael would call the landline.

With the amount of gas lingering in the house now, just the connection of an incoming call would create enough of a spark to cause an explosion.

And the best part was, it’d look like a total freak accident.

Ethan and Nate let themselves inside and Michael’s lips curved into a smile. It was too bad he couldn’t record the explosion for Riley. Would it be loud enough for her to hear in the padded room?

He pulled the encrypted phone from his pocket and typed in the property’s landline number he’d already memorized.

He placed the device to his ear and continued down the sidewalk as casually as if he’d left the beach.

A flutter of movement snapped his gaze up.

Ethan careened backward down the steps, his blond friend landing on the ground beside him. Michael’s stomach pitched.

The line connected and rang in his ear.

Boom!

No!

Sweat leaked from his armpits and down his sides.

His jaw quivered and his footsteps halted.

No, it couldn’t be. They’d gotten out. How?

He couldn’t let them see him yet. Not until he gathered his bearings and came up with another plan.

He darted down the alleyway and skirted behind his and Riley’s house, entering in the backyard.

He dropped onto the step and lowered his head to his hands, sucking in deep, ragged breaths of air.

Heat and smoke radiated across the backyard, crowding out his focus.

He had to think. The fire department and police would be here any minute. It’d look really strange if he hadn’t come out to see what had happened.

He lifted the hem of his shirt, rubbed the sweat from his brow and face and then lifted his glasses to do the same around his eyes.

He could do this.

It was just like every other encounter with the police. Only now, Ethan wasn’t gone. His plan had failed and he’d still be looking for Riley. He pressed his palms into his knees and stood, rounding the house and toward the front where Ethan and Nate stood on the sidewalk.

Both men swiveled to him as he approached.

“Are you guys all right? What the hell happened?” He kept his tone shocked and adjusted his hat to survey the flaming house.

Ethan closed the distance between them, his gaze like hot lasers. Black soot coated his tanned skin and his electric blue eyes burned into him.

It was all Michael could do not to take a step back. He had to tread carefully.

“Yeah, my house blew up.”

Michael mumbled a curse. “My god, it’s a good thing you weren’t inside. We should probably alert the neighborhood, get everyone to clear out until they find out—”.

Ethan’s shoulders bunched, his body radiating rage. “Something happen to your cheek?”

Michael touched the gauze with his fingertips. “Ah, that. I was out fishing early this morning and caught a hook in the cheek from a friend’s line. I’m lucky, it came pretty darn close to my eye.”

Ethan’s top lip lifted skeptically. “That so?” He looked back at his friend who moved closer to them.

“That’s funny. You see, I’ve heard you don’t have many friends. A successful dental practice yes, but friends? I think that’s a stretch.”

Michael’s fingers twitched at his sides. Riley had been telling the truth, the bastard was on to him.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

Ethan took another step forward; his shoe stepped on Michael’s bare toes exposed through his sandal. He didn’t pull away.

“Riley is missing, Dr. Ball. Would you happen to know anything about that?”

Michael let his jaw go slack. He stepped away, and ran his hand over the back of his neck. “Riley? Oh my goodness. I hope she’s all right. I haven’t—”

A patrol car pulled up, its lights going but the siren off. Joe and another officer stepped out of the car.

Michael’s heart stopped.