“Watch the road, you crazy.”
I chuckled and put on my blinker to pull into the alley behind the gallery. “Living dangerously at ten miles per hour.”
She pinched my side. “Just for that, I’m going to steal all your Lucky Charms from now on.”
I turned into the alley, and the smile slipped from my face. A sheriff’s department SUV and squad car blocked off the street, and a few officers milled around. My ribs tightened around my lungs as images of Eli breaking in filled my mind. Ones where he was determined to get his hands on Laiken.
“Oh, God,” Laiken whispered.
My gaze shot to her. All the color had drained from her face.
“What?”
“That’s Marisa’s car.”
“Shit.” I switched off my engine and climbed out of my truck. I rounded the vehicle to get to Laiken, but she’d already climbed out.
Her hand trembled as she reached for mine. I tugged her to my side and then wrapped that arm around her.
Hayes strode towards us. “I was just about to call you.”
“Where’s Marisa?” Laiken asked.
His jaw hardened. “We don’t know. One of the neighboring businesses called in an abandoned car with its door open this morning.”
“She called me last night. Said she wanted to talk, but I was at Boden’s. I told her to get an escort home, but she didn’t want one.” Tears filled her eyes and tracked down her cheeks. “She was in her car. I heard the engine start and the locks engage.”
Hayes straightened at that information. “You’re sure?”
Laiken nodded.
“Points to someone she knew,” I surmised.
Hayes jotted down something in his phone. “Could be. Or someone had a gun and she felt she had no choice.”
“What about cameras?” I asked.
“None of us are very big on security,” Laiken said softly.
Hayes grimaced. “We’ve asked around, but so far, no video.”
Laiken gripped my jacket. “Is there anything?”
Hayes looked back at the vehicle and then returned his gaze to Laiken as if trying to decide whether or not to share something. “There’s blood at the scene.”
Laiken’s hand spasmed, and she made a small noise in the back of her throat. I pulled her tighter against me. I would’ve given anything to shield her from this.
“It’s not enough to end her life or even be a critical wound, but it’s enough that we know the person is injured. I’ve already got a sample headed to the lab,” Hayes said.
A sick feeling invaded my gut. “Does Marisa look similar to Laiken?”
Laiken turned in my arms. “We have a similar build. Her hair is a little lighter than mine but it’s brown, too.”
“Enough that they could be mistaken for each other in the dark,” Hayes filled in.
My gut twisted. “Have you located my brother?”
Hayes shook his head. “We had one possible sighting, but once we got there, he was gone.”