“She should’ve called me. I never would’ve let her go alone. You should’ve fucking called me!” Not once in his life had he shouted at his brother, but he was hanging on to his sanity by a thread as he raced out of the field office into the damp October air. His shoes sponged over dead, waterlogged leaves as he ran and jumped into his temporary vehicle.
Gus let out a string of curses, none of them aimed at Easton. He was taking the weight of his screwup hard. “Wasn’t thinking clear, but yeah, I should’ve. So damn sorry for letting you down, brother. We’re going to find her. Where are you now?” The slam of a door and feet pounding over pavement were audible.
“Headed back to my place.” He pulled out of the office parking lot on two wheels. “Maybe she did get to the house and fell asleep. I’m driving on the main roads. You take the back. Get ahold of Isaac.” He wanted her phone to be off for some logical reason. Maybe she’d forgotten to charge it when they were caught up in each other last night. Maybe she’d been in the shower and didn’t hear the house phone ringing.
“Will do.” Gus was beating himself up more than anyone else ever could, but at the moment, Easton had one focus. Getting to Kinley. What would he do if she disappeared? Imagining her hurt or in pain was a serrated blade slowly sinking beneath his skin. He wouldn’t survive it. Kinley was the woman he thought he’d never find, and she was his. Now that he’d had her in his home, he couldn’t picture the space empty of her goodness.
He hadn’t even made it halfway home when he got an incoming call from Gus. “Where are you?” The tone of his brother’s voice chilled his blood.
Easton’s hands tightened on the wheel, blanching. “Just passed the pet store on route 495.”
“Turn around.” Gus was breathing hard like he’d just been running. “Found her car, Easton.”
“Is she…” He trailed off, unable to say the words out loud. Sweat broke out on the small of his back.
“She’s not here.” His brother paused, the only sound his rapid breath. “Multiple tire tracks from the road. Her vehicle went over the embankment just past the golf course.” Gus’s voice was strained like he was holding back on something.
“Now’s not the time to withhold information.” Easton’s vision narrowed, the physical pressure of Kinley missing crushing him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Gus cleared his throat and in a softer voice said, “Drag marks leading back to the road. Jules and Sasha are calling all the local hospitals. No one can get in touch with Isaac. He’s out of the country on a mission.”
“She’s not at a hospital,” he said with a growl. The Kingston Town Killer had stuck to crimes of opportunity until now.
“Know that. I also know Kinley’s tough as hell.” Gus was starting to sound as short of breath as Easton felt.
“He’s got her. Fuck!” He slammed his fist into the steering wheel. “I promised nothing would touch her. That I’d protect her. Goddammit.” His voice cracked.
“She’ll hold on, Easton. She’s strong. We’ll get to her.”
“When she’s broken and bleeding?” The rage building inside him was going to detonate in three point two seconds. When it did, someone was going to get hurt whether they wanted to be in the crosshairs or not.
“Don’t go there,” Gus snapped. “You’re no good to her like this.”
He paused, trying to even out his ragged breath. Gus was right. He was doing her no favors by losing his shit. He needed to be numb and process the information of her disappearance just like he would at the bureau. He was damn good at what he did, but he’d never operated in a full-blown state of panic like he was right now.
“Needed that. Be there in ten.” He hung up the line and clenched his teeth together. Lock it down. He got himself under control and then pulled down the side street next to Gus’s state-issued vehicle. He parked and leaped from the SUV. Gus was standing at the edge of the embankment, and he ran up to meet him. Nothing could’ve prepared him for the pitch of revulsion in his gut as he stared down the steep, craggy hill. Shattered glass. Crumpled steel. One tire blown clean off of the car. But what had dread wriggling beneath his skin were the drag marks cutting a path through the dirt and brush, large, wide-set footprints on either side. The breath evaporated from his lungs, and he doubled over, bracing his quaking arms on his knees. A flash of heat tingled over his scalp, turning cold as the sensation slithered down his body.
Then Gus was at his side, hand clamped down on his shoulder in support. He straightened slowly and was dragged into a rough embrace. “I’ll do anything to make this right.” Gus’s voice constricted.
“Then let’s find her,” he said. Gus stood at arm’s length, one palm still on the back of his neck. No one would work harder to find Kinley. Not only because she was his brother’s partner and friend, but because Easton loved her. He should’ve told her how he felt. Now he might never get that chance.
“Whatever you’re thinking, shut it down,” Gus said.
Two black vans were hauling ass up the street, and they screeched to a stop. The doors swung open and Nilsson jumped from the driver’s seat, followed by Dawson, who exited the passenger side. Forensics began unloading from the van behind them, immediately starting to secure the scene. Flashing blue lights came next as three cruisers sped down the road, sirens blaring. Some of the tension eased from his shoulders. Gus had already called in the cavalry.
As Nilsson shouted orders, Dawson jogged up to them, acknowledging Gus with a chin lift. He placed his hand on Easton’s shoulder, just as his brother had done. Gone was the ever-present grin, and his light eyes were hard. “We’ve got this, man. Go do what you do behind that computer screen and bring Wright home.”
Dawson walked away, and he turned to Gus. “No fucking way I’m going back to my desk while everyone is out searching. We need to spread out. Need to—”
“Listen. If you were thinking clearly, if your emotions weren’t involved, you’d know you’re her best chance of survival. You and I both know this dickwad is in the wind. Probably already has her holed up someplace that a search party would never stumble over. You’re the only one who can pick up their trail.”
Easton dragged his hands through his hair and tugged at the roots. “Kins is out there with a fucking monster. Doesn’t feel right to go home.”
“I get it, but there’s no one better at uncovering information than you. If you’re in the office, you won’t be able to push boundaries like you can on your own system. I’m driving. Someone will come for your car. Need to fill you in on Merry, too.” They ran to Gus’s car, and he started the engine.
“What happened with Calder’s daughter?” Easton flexed his fingers then balled his hands into fists.
“Don’t think she’s Calder’s.” Gus angled his chin toward Easton but looked right past him.