Page 114 of Distress Signal

All attention shot to him. Even Lane appeared surprised.

“How long have you been sitting onthatinformation?” the sheriff asked.

“Since the day Benny handed over the tapes.”

“And why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it didn’t show anything actionable. Her assailant was dressed head to toe in black, and he pounced on her as soon as she left the bar. It was pretty dark, and you know that lot isn’t well-lit, but if I had to guess, he drugged her somehow. One minute she was fighting him, and the next she slumped in his arms. He carried her out of frame, and that was it. None of the other cameras in town picked up a vehicle immediately afterward,so I had to guess he took one of the lesser traveled routes. The whole thing was over in less than three minutes.”

Next to me, Reagan’s face had gone white, but not from distress.

No, she was vibrating with rage.

“I’m going to find him, and I’m going to kill him.”

thirty-two

. . .

REAGAN

Everyone chuckled at me,but judging by the way Finn’s hand tightened around mine, he knew I wasn’t joking.

Lane theatrically stuck his fingers in his ears. “I didn’t hear that.”

“Stiff,” West muttered, too low for anyone but me and Finn to hear. Finn choked on a laugh, but I remained still.

So much anger coursed through me, making it difficult to focus on what was happening around me. All I could do was imagine Lainey in those moments she was being abducted, fear sending ice through my veins as though I was living through the ordeal myself.

“Where are we at on the footage from seven years ago?” Lane asked Trey suddenly.

“I managed to locate a tape from April of that year, but it didn’t have anything from the day in question. I’m close, though,” he added, flexing his fingers. “I can feel it.”

“Work faster.”

All the Lawlesses’ eyes darted to me.

“I’m going as quickly as I can,” Trey gritted out.

“You’re not doing enough!” I exploded, rising to my feet andmoving to tower over him. “She’s been gone forthree months, Trey! I don’t know why she isn’t dead yet, but the longer it takes us to find her, the lower the chances of her coming home alive. And I will not survive if that’s the case. Do you understand me? If she dies,I die.”

The truth of that statement settled over the room like a thick shroud. I’d surprised even myself by how deeply I meant that. Finn or no Finn, without my sister, I could see no point in living, no reason to carry on without her.

A gentle touch found the small of my back, and I turned into Finn’s embrace instantly. He banded his arms around me as I buried my face in his chest and fell apart.

Goddesses, please grant me strength.

I was so fucking tired. Mentally and emotionally. I felt like a pendulum swinging between happy and sad, joy and rage. I wanted normalcy, to go back to a time when Lainey was home and safe.

And I wanted to be able to enjoy this budding romance with Finn without guilt hanging over my head like a guillotine.

Once I managed to collect myself, I pulled back from Finn and gave him a watery smile, brushing my fingers over the dampened front of his shirt.

He rested his forehead against mine and whispered, “I’ve got you, baby. But you have to fight. For Lainey, and for us.”

All I could do was nod.

Then Aspen piped up. “Where are we at on those journal pages, Sheriff?”