Page 147 of Finding His Redemption

A blatant lie, and he detested lies. So why was he so willing to offer her that comfort?

But then she sucked in a breath and straightened her shoulders. “Don’t get me wrong, Bailee deserved justice. But so does Leila. And all the others.” Her voice softened on that last bit.

“Like your cousin?”he wanted to ask.

He knew the disappearance of her cousin when they were teenagers was what had fueled her to join the FBI. People always got uncomfortable when they found out exactly how much information he had on them, so he kept his mouth shut.

Instead, he handed her the last of the scattered flyers, their fingers brushing again. This time, she didn’t pull away immediately.

“You’re the one they call Ghost.”

It wasn’t a question, but he nodded.

“I’ve heard you see things, notice patterns.”

Behind them, Ghost was acutely aware of his bunkmates pretending not to listen.

“I see what needs seeing,” he said carefully.

She studied his face with an intensity that made him want to look away, but he held her gaze. “Then you must see the similarities between these cases that everyone else seems to miss.”

He had. Three of the four missing women had been last seen near the same stretch of highway. All had connections to the casino, either as employees or frequent visitors. All had disappeared during evening hours, and all had family members who reported feeling watched in the weeks leading up to the disappearance.

“Maybe,” he said.

Naomi’s jaw tightened. “Maybe isn’t good enough. These women aren’t just statistics. They’re daughters, sisters, and mothers. And someone is hunting them.”

Hunting.

He’d used that exact term in his own notes, the ones he kept locked in his security office at the ranch. Notes that include detailed timelines, locations, and potential connections. Notes that painted a picture of something deliberate and organized.

“Yes, there is a pattern,” he agreed.

They rose simultaneously, and he became acutely aware of how close they were standing. He knew he should step back, but couldn’t seem to make himself move.

“I’ve been trying to get someone to listen for months,” Naomi said, clutching the flyers to her chest. “No one takes it seriously. Even my supervisors…” She trailed off and shook her head. “They say the girls had problems, that they probably just left town.”

“They didn’t leave,” Ghost replied with absolute certainty. “Someone made them disappear.”

Naomi studied him for a long moment, as if recalibrating everything she thought she knew about him. Finally, she nodded.

“The tribal council meets tomorrow night. Seven o’clock at the community center. I’m presenting what I’ve found so far.” She hesitated, then added, “You should come. Bring whatever you have.”

Working with someone else meant exposure. Vulnerability. All the things he’d systematically eliminated from his life.

But when her dark eyes met his, he found he couldn’t say no. “I’ll be there.”

“I hope so.” Naomi finally took a step back from him and turned to tape Leila’s flyer to the window.

Without her so close, he found he could breathe properly again.

“Thank you, Nessie,” she said, nodding to the bakery owner. “I’ll let you get back to your renovation. Sorry to interrupt.”

“You’re never interrupting,” Nessie replied softly. “Keep me posted?”

Naomi’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Always do.” She paused at the door and hesitated like she wanted to say something more. Instead, she looked him dead in the eyes and said, “Don’t let me down, Ghost.”

Then she was gone, leaving behind only that wild scent.