Page 64 of Smoky Mountain K-9
“I described Ms. Miller to the manager, and he checked his records. She’s staying in room one thirty-one. He doesn’t think she’s here right now, though. Said she’s been driving a black Ford SUV.”
“Not a white one?”
Tristan shook his head. “She was, but then showed up with this car last week. The manager said she told him they were both rentals, and the other car had an issue, so she got a new one.”
Carter scoffed. “Yeah. It got caught on a security camera. Okay.”
“We’re going to search her room. Keep an eye out and radio us if you see her.”
“Will do.”
Tristan backed away, and Carter rolled up the window. Maverick barked, protesting being left behind.
“I know, bud. I want to go with them too.”
Through the windshield, he watched the others execute the warrant on Ms. Miller’s room. He shifted his car to give him a better view of the road, then kept one eye on the building and the other on cars driving by, hoping to catch her returning. But by the time they finished their search, she was still MIA.
Carter got out of his car, needing to stretch his legs, and jogged over to Tristan and Jake’s vehicle, where Jake sat in the driver’s seat, writing. “Anything?”
“Maybe.” Jake took his phone from his pocket and pulled up some pictures. “She’s obsessed with you.”
Eyes widening as he took in the folder full of pictures of him, Carter’s heartbeat quickened. Who was this woman and why was she so interested in him? “Did you find anything to indicate why she’s obsessed with me?”
“No,” Jake said. “Just that. We lifted some prints, though. Hopefully, they’ll tell us who she really is. You’re sure you don’t know her?”
“Positive.”
“Okay. Well, we’re about finished here. I think Tristan might have the uniform stay behind for a little while in case she shows up.”
“Sounds good.” Carter glanced at the clock on the dash. “I need to get going. I’m already late picking Mara up from work.” He was actually surprised she hadn’t called. A curl of unease unfurled in his gut.
Jake nodded. “We’ll call you if anything shakes out.”
“That works.” Carter walked away, barely noticing the other man’s wave. He was too distracted by the fact Mara hadn’t called. Climbing into his cruiser again, he pushed the button on his steering wheel to enable the voice feature that connected his phone to the car. “Call Mara.”
The phone rang through the interior. When it rolled to voicemail, he pushed the button to disconnect the call, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. Pushing the voice button again, he tried her office phone and got the same result. Something wasn’t right.
He leaned his head out the window and gave a sharp whistle. Jake poked his head from the car and Tristan stepped back from the rear of it, where he was stowing the evidence they gathered.
“I can’t get Mara on the phone.”
“You try her cell and the center’s number?” Tristan called.
“Yes.”
Stepping back, Tristan shut the hatch. “We’ll follow you.”
With a nod, Carter rolled the window up and put the car in gear. He wasn’t waiting on them. They knew the way.
Out on the road, Carter tried Mara’s cell again. It went to voicemail once more. So did her office number. Growling, he disconnected the call. Where was she? He supposed it was possible she was riding her horse and didn’t have her phone on her. If that was the case, she’d get an earful about not carrying it.
Carter made the fifteen-minute drive back to Foggy Mountain, on edge the entire way. Pulling into the lot, he parked near the door and got out. Maverick barked, not wanting to be left behind. “I hear you, bud.” He opened the rear door and clipped the leash to the dog’s harness. “Let’s go.” Maverick hopped down, and Carter headed for the door.
Using the key Mara gave him, he let them into the building. It was quiet. “Mara?” Wandering down the hall, he stopped at her office. The door was closed and locked, the lights off inside. Continuing down the hallway, he went through the door to the arena.
The black horse trotting around the enclosure drew his attention. Alarm bells went off in his head as he noted the saddle on the horse’s back. Carter glanced around. “Mara?” Worried now, he jogged down the concourse toward the stables. Had she fallen off her horse and managed to make it to the restroom, only to pass out?
He pushed open the bathroom door. “Mara?” The room was quiet, all the stalls empty. Dammit, where could she be? Turning around, he went back to the stables and searched, checking all the stalls and storage rooms. She wasn’t here.