Page 91 of Rescued Dreams

Ridge said, “Where’s Amelia?”

“Dude,” Zack cautioned.

“Did you see her, Meg?”

The café owner sniffed, and tears rolled down her cheeks. He knew who she was but didn’t think he’d ever talked to her other than to give her his coffee order. And that hadn’t been for a long time, since he’d cut out expensive coffee to save some money when he bought the town house.

“He took her.”

“What—” Ridge moved one arm around his ribs. He wasn’t going to the hospital. He was going to find Amelia.

Della said, “What happened, Meg?”

“He was dressed like a firefighter, so everyone thought he was one of you guys. He climbed down into the truck and used this strap thing around her to pull her out.”

Della shifted, rubbing her shoulder. “That’s why my arm feels like it’s been stepped on.”

Meg bit her lip. “He said he needed to get her to the hospital fast. No one said anything because we all thought he was a firefighter. No one else had climbed up there yet. We didn’t know.”

Ridge set his hand on her shoulder. “Did you see his face?”

“I don’t know if it was Nicholas. It wasn’t her brother.”

He frowned. “You know about her ex?”

“Amelia is my best friend. Our fathers died in the same fire.”

“Steven Hilden didn’t die in a fire.” Ridge wasn’t sure what she was talking about.

“Not him.” Meg’s expression shifted to disgust. “Matt Patterson. The firefighter her mom married.”

“Right. She told me about him.” Ridge wanted to squeeze the bridge of his nose, but that would mean letting go of his ribs.

“We didn’t know you guys were close,” Zack said.

Meg shrugged. “We were supposed to have lunch today, since it’s been a few days and we haven’t caught up.”

Ridge said, “If I can show you a photo of Nicholas, do you think you can ID the man who took her?”

Meg nodded. “If you show me his picture, I’ll tell you if it was him or not.”

Ridge squeezed her shoulder. “Thanks.”

“Just find her. Because I don’t think he took her to the hospital.”

“Would Nicholas blow up a fire truck?” It couldn’t have been Elam, though he wouldn’t put it past the guy to get a friend to do this. He was currently in jail, however. Ridge couldn’t help wondering if there was a connection between what had happened at the bank…and this.

Seemed like a golden opportunity for someone with ill intentions to deal Truck 14 a serious blow. Had Nicholas used the cover of the robbery to get his hands on Amelia?

Meg’s face flushed. “Nicholas has left her alone for years. Why would he come here now?”

“If it isn’t him,” Ridge said, “then we have no idea who took her. Or why they would.”

And they’d have no idea where to find her.

If it wasn’t Elam and it wasn’t Nicholas, then someone else had it in for her, and Ridge had been blind to it. This wasn’t about the money in that bank account. It was about Amelia herself.

And all her nightmares coming true.