Spencer flicked a glance in her direction. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
His promise brought Katrina’s emotions crashing over her head like a wave. The last time anyone had put her first and protected her had been when her grandparents were both alive. She had been ten when her grandmother died and, after that, her grandfather’s health had quickly declined. When he passed two years later, she had replaced him as her mom and sister’s caretaker. It had been a lonely life.
“And we’ll find out what happened to Eliza,” Spencer said.
Every other thought was driven out of her head at the implication of what he was saying. “What happened to her?” she repeated. “Don’t you mean ‘we’ll find Eliza’?”
“I hope we’ll find her.” He didn’t sound hopeful.
“Do you think she might have been involved in something shady that put her in danger?” When he didn’t answer, Katrina shivered. “Or are you saying she could have been killed?”
“I really don’t want to speculate.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You can’t do this. I’m half out of my mind with worry already. You have to tell me what you’re thinking.”
“The reason that I don’t want to make any assumptions is that I don’t want to add to your concerns.” He stopped the car outside an apartment block and turned in his seat to look at her. “Okay. This is just one train of thought. How do we know Eliza isn’t behind the threats you’ve been getting? You said yourself she can get mad when she’s feeling resentful.”
“That wouldn’t happen.” Katrina bristled. “If I gave you the wrong impression about my sister, I’m sorry. Despite her problems, Eliza would never be violent. And she wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Then we’ll keep searching.” He turned to face her. “I called the AAG ranch this morning. They’ve never heard of anyone called Christie Foster.”
“But that’s not possible. I have her number and the record of the call in my cell phone. She told me she’d heard me on the day I called there asking about Eliza. She said she knew her.” Katrina rubbed a hand over her face. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Spencer peered through the windshield at the building. “We’ll find out. Starting right now with some tough questions for Mr. Hannant.”
* * *
The address Aidan Hannant had given Spencer was a second-floor apartment in a small building on the edge of town. Before he approached the entrance, Spencer looked around the exterior, focusing on the parking lot.
Katrina quickly glanced over her shoulder. “What are we waiting for?”
Spencer wished he could reassure her that she was safe when he was around. His desire to protect her was one of the most overwhelming emotions he had known. He knew it was partly because of Billie. He hadn’t been able to save his
fiancée when she’d needed him, so he was determined to be there this time for Katrina. But penetrating the wall of fear that surrounded her wasn’t going to be easy.
“Can you see the black Chrysler sedan with tinted windows that drove at you?” he asked.
“Maybe Hannant isn’t home? He could be at work, or possibly he’s gone to the gym?” She sounded relieved.
“He damn well better be here. I got the officer on reception-desk duty to call and tell him I was coming. Hannant assured him he’d be here.”
Leading the way to the apartment building, he keyed in the numbers on the security system for Hannant’s apartment. When there was no response after a minute or two, he tried again.
“This isn’t looking hopeful,” he muttered.
As he was contemplating a third attempt, a young woman in sports gear opened the glass doors from inside of the building.
“Excuse me.” Spencer held up his badge. “I need to gain access to the building.”
She regarded him with a dubious expression for a second or two, then held the door wide. “Sure.”
After thanking her, Spencer beckoned for Katrina to follow him. Once they were inside the small lobby, he looked around. There was no elevator, just a single flight of stairs directly opposite the door.
“Stay behind me,” he told Katrina. “If there is any sign of trouble, get out and call 911.”
Her eyes appeared bigger than ever as she stared back at him. “You think there’s going to be trouble?”
“I don’t have a good feeling about this.”