Page 96 of Desperate Justice

Rafe rocked back and forth. “Our first priority is finding her and making sure she’s okay, Ally. I don’t know how the two are connected, but we need to find her.”

When he tried Paul’s number, Rafe frowned. “Got a recording saying the number can’t be reached.”

“That’s odd. It might be the signals out here.”

“Maybe.”

“Let me text him.” She shot off a quick text, included the offer to pick him up at the airport.

No answer.

Rafe texted something on his phone. “I don’t want to leave you here alone. Debbie and Keith are going to stay here with you.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No.”

“I can take care of myself.”

He gave her a scrutinizing look and gently touched her head. “Oh? Maybe,mi angel, but I won’t risk it. Comet is still at the animal hospital and Keith and Debbie need a break. They’re worn-out and they can’t return to their room yet.”

She understood. Rafe was calling on her skills as a nurse and hostess, and at the same time, keeping her at the cabin.

“Okay.”

She went into the kitchen to check on food and drinks. By the time she made more sandwiches, the couple arrived on their motorcycles. Debbie came into the cabin, eyes swollen from crying, her nose red. Allison hugged her.

When the couple finished eating lunch and drinking the lemonade she’d bought in town, they looked completely exhausted.

Allison changed the sheets on the king-size bed and hustled them into her room to rest.

She closed the door behind them and joined Rafe on the porch.

“Comet’s going to be okay, but they’re keeping him overnight just in case. I told them to spend the night here. I can run into town and get them fresh clothing, toiletries...”

“I don’t want you leaving the cabin. You need to stay here, Ally.”

His phone rang as she thought of a smart reply. He glanced at the number. “It’s Sam.”

He put the call on speaker.

“I’m here with Greg, from the DEA. He arrived with agents about an hour ago. We booked a hotel suite for a command center, and the field offices have deployed all available resources. Everything is on the DL. Tested the bears, and yeah, the substance in the tan bears in Keith and Debbie’s room was fentanyl.”

“Son of a...” Rafe’s eyes closed for a minute. “I was transporting drugs over the state line.”

“Yep. And if you got caught, well, try to wiggle your way out of that one.”

“Hernandez isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t risk me finding out.” Rafe frowned. “Actually the tan bears weren’t mine. Ally and her sister originally got them, and I carried them as a favor.”

Allison gulped as he turned to her. “Where did you pick up those bears for yourself and Diana?”

“It was...” Allison bit her lip and took a deep breath. Son of a biscuit, this was bad. But he needed to know the truth. “At the seamstress shop where Diana had her fitting. They had a pick-up spot there for bikers. I thought it was fine... I mean, they participate in a toy drive at Christmas.”

His gaze remained steady. “Ally, did they know you took them?”

Flushing, she felt a stab of pure guilt and panic. “Diana insisted we do it to save time once we got to the rendezvous point with you and the others. When we got to the shop, the manager was there and told us those bears were already reserved, but Diana waved her off.”

Rafe’s jaw tensed. “This doesn’t look good for her, Ally.”