Page 99 of Lethal Threat

The sheriff gives me a sympathetic look. “The blue coat is in my car, but it’s evidence. I can’t give it to you right now. The pockets are empty, except for—get this—a kitchen paring knife. There’s some red hair caught in the velcro near the neck.”

Larson clasps a hand on my shoulder. “She’s probably okay. We just need to find her. I’m sure that was an Uber or a Lyft that picked her up at the store.”

The sheriff nods. “We have a call into both companies to get the transaction records for last night. The local taxi-cab company already confirmed it wasn’t them. The clerk on duty at the store said that Sierra did not seem to be in physical distress. She used cash to purchase some granola bars and a bottle of water.”

“There was cash in her passport and a credit card. We picked them up in Virginia. Her purse was never recovered from her accident.”

Marshall sets his phone on the counter. His hard eyes rise to mine. “I just got more details. Sierra Owens used a Lyft to get to the Salt Lake airport last night. She purchaseda one way ticket to Virginia on a redeye with her credit card and boarded the plane on time.”

I’m stunned speechless. She remembered…

It’s the only explanation.

“Are you okay, honey?” My mom’s hand touches my shaking arm.

“I’ll feel a lot better when I know she’s okay.”

Beside me, Simona furiously taps on the laptop keyboard she’s been using for the last ten minutes. “I just chartered Agile a plane.”

I toss back the cup of coffee. It scalds its way down my throat as I take the steps two at a time to my bedroom. In less than four minutes, I’m loaded and bounding back down the stairs.

My mother and father are the only ones left in the house when I return to the kitchen. It looks like someone pulled a fire alarm.

Mom throws her arms around me. “I’m sorry, hun. You be careful. I hope you can find her and bring her home.”

Over my mother’s shoulder, I see the tree that Sierra and I decorated. Pain lances through my chest.

I want her back.

If she left because she remembered what happened that night seven months ago, the chances of hell freezing over are better.

Chapter Thirty-Two

SIERRA

The Norfolk Airport is packed with holiday travelers wearing bright smiles in silly holiday sweaters.

Every single red and green sweater drives a spike in my heart.

I’ll never have what they have. Family. A reason to be cheerful in the season.

The masses amble around aimlessly, chattering like chipmunks, even though its only eight in the morning.

I want to scream. I want to run through them. I can’t take it anymore. Being cooped up on the plane with my memories and my worry was more than any person should have to endure.

The phone Cole got me chimes. It’s a notification for a voicemail. Someone must have called while I was flying.

Please let it be Bryan.

I hold my breath until I have the screen in front of me.

The urge to curse returns. Cole.

I should just delete his message. I can’t take any more pain.

As I worm my way through the B concourse, I go against my better judgement and play the message.

He’s shouting. I glance around to see if anyone else is hearing his piercing voice.