Page 50 of High Country Escape
“Do you want the information or not?”
“I want it.” Aaron grabbed a notepad from Dalton’s desk. “What’s that address again? And the dates she was there?”
When he had finished writing, he tore off the paper, folded it and tucked it into his pocket. “How did you find out about her?” he asked.
“Do you know Debra Percy?”
Aaron nodded. “She thinks Ledger kidnapped and killed her older sister.”
“She also thinks—or thought—that Roxanne knows something about her sister. She keeps questioning Roxanne about it. But yesterday she visited Roxanne and told her she had found out about Betty Josephs. Roxanne passed the information along to me to give to you.”
“Except you had to do your own research first.”
“You’re welcome,” Dalton said.
“Yeah, thanks. Maybe we need to talk to Debra again.”
Themaybeset Dalton’s teeth on edge. “Why haven’t you found Ledger yet? He’s just one man. He’s got to be somewhere close.”
Aaron’s mouth tightened. “Investigations like this take time. And we don’t have a lot to go on. And this isn’t the only crime we’re investigating.”
Dalton heard the frustration in Aaron’s voice and noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes. “Sorry. I’m just worried about Roxanne. Do you have any news about Sarah?”
“No. None of us are getting much sleep, worrying about her.”
“Do you think Ledger has her?” he asked.
“I don’t know what to think. But it’s one more reason to find him. Sooner rather than later.” He put a hand on Dalton’sshoulder. “Let Roxanne know we’ll be following up on this. And you take care.”
Aaron left, and Dalton sank into his chair once more. Aaron said investigations took time, but it didn’t feel like Sarah—and maybe Roxanne—had much time.
Chapter Thirteen
“Since you’ve moved in, we’re seeing a lot more of Dalton,” Diane said as she and Roxanne prepared dinner Saturday night. “As I was leaving work today he asked if I could set a place for him for dinner.”
Roxanne focused on the salad greens she was washing, hiding a smile of pleasure at both the prospect of seeing Dalton shortly, and the idea that he was specifically showing up to see her. “He’s always raving about your cooking,” she said.
“Oh, I don’t think my chicken casserole is the big draw.” Roxanne didn’t have to look to know that Diane was watching her. Though she had been wonderful about respecting Roxanne’s privacy, she hadn’t hidden the fact that she was curious about Roxanne’s relationship with Dalton and about Roxanne’s own past.
She finished washing the greens and dried her hands, then turned to face Diane. “I really like Dalton,” she said. “He’s smart and funny, and kind. He’s been a wonderful friend to me during a difficult time.”
“But something is holding you back,” Diane said. “Don’t look surprised. I’ve raised four young people whose moods I’ve had to learn to decipher.”
“My life is so unstable right now,” Roxanne said. “It’s not a good time to start a relationship.”
“It seems to me having a good man you could count on might be the best thing to have around in the midst of a lot of instability,” Diane said.
Roxanne looked away. The next thing she knew, she felt Diane’s arm around her. “I’m not trying to tell you what to do,” she said. “But now that you’re living here with us, I worry about you like you’re one of my own. I want you to be happy. And I want Dalton to be happy. He’s not like Carter, or even Bethany, who were in and out of love every other week all through high school. He’s always slow to give his heart. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
People had told her this so many times she had to believe it, didn’t she? She hadn’t missed the looks Dalton had given her, but she didn’t trust her judgment when it came to most people, especially most men. “You and George have been wonderful,” Roxanne said. “I can’t thank you enough for opening your home to me.”
“Dalton told me you needed a safe place to stay because someone from your past was harassing you,” Diane said. “I told Dalton any friend of his is welcome in our home.”
Roxanne tried to blink away tears once more but this time they overflowed too fast. Diane patted her back. “In case you felt like you were fighting this alone, you’re not,” she said. “You’ve got the whole family on your side. The creep who’s after you doesn’t know it, but the Ameses altogether are a match for anyone.”
Roxanne tried to smile and dabbed at her eyes with the paper towel she snatched from the roll on the counter.
“Hello? Anybody home?”