“You got it.” The man disconnected.
Sighing deeply, Eli raised a dark gaze to Kansas and Noelle. “That was Bobby Reynolds.” Eli’s eyes shifted to Noelle’s as he added, “He’s a senior officer at the Shelby PD.”
Holding her breath, Noelle nodded for him to continue.
“Witnesses reported what appears to be a kidnapping in a key shopping district downtown about two hours ago. A man grabbed a woman off the street and shoved her in his car before racing away. They’re gathering CCTV footage from cameras in the area, but the description of the man and the car the two witnesses gave fit Scott Montgomery.”
“Which if we’re right about him,” Kansas said, her voice hoarse, “means he could be about to kill again. Another victim of the Fiancée Killer.”
Eli’s jaw hardened, and his blue eyes grew flinty. “Not on my watch. Not if I can stop him.” He gathered up his scribbled notes and shoved his phone in his back pocket. “Kansas, will you let the family know that the bad weather is ahead of schedule and roads will start getting bad soon?”
His cousin nodded.
“And see that Noelle makes it home safely? I have to go in to headquarters.”
Noelle raised a hand to halt Kansas’s response. “Forget that. You made me a consultant on the case. I’m coming with you.”
Kansas edged toward the door to the backyard. “I want to help, too. I’m sure the SAR team will be put on standby any minute. As soon as I let the family know the weather update and tell Will and Sasha we’re leaving, I’ll be right behind you.”
Chapter 18
Because of the distance the senior Coltons’ home was from town and the first wave of snow sticking to the roads, Eli, Noelle and Kansas didn’t arrive at the ABI offices until forty-five minutes later. When they reached Eli’s office, the light was already on, and they heard the low muttering of a male voice.
Eli raised an arm, stopping the women from proceeding until he poked his head around the doorframe.
Asher sat at his desk, on the phone with someone, and looked up when Eli stepped into the room. Asher held up a finger, asking Eli to wait a minute.
When he didn’t signal any danger to the women, Kansas and Noelle crowded forward to peer past him into the room. Kansas gave a discontented grunt when she spied Asher.
“What are you doing here?” she fussed the instant he disconnected his phone call.
“Last time I checked, I worked here,” Asher said, narrowing his eyes. “Why areyouhere?”
“Why shouldn’t I be? Within a few hours, I can bet my team will be called out for a search and rescue for the woman that was taken.”
Asher shifted his gaze to Eli. “So you heard about the abduction then?”
Eli nodded. “I’ll handle it. You should be home recovering. Until we know more about who the woman was and where the guy took her, it’s all office work. I can manage that, especially with Noelle as my sounding board.”
Asher’s eyes widened. “She’s a sounding board now, too?”
Eli huffed his pique. “She’s been through the files as meticulously as we have at this point. She’s smart, logical, good with analysis, and her software could prove valuable again.” He squared his shoulders. “You got a problem with me including her?”
Asher raised both hands. “Not if you think she can help. I’m ready to nail this bastard once and for all.”
“So…” Kansas strode over to Asher’s desk and pinned a narrow-eyed look on him. “Since Eli has Noelle’s help, you can go home and rest. The doctor told you to take it easy for at least a week before you returned to work.”
“You’re not my nurse, my mother or my conscience,” Asher replied, his own tone firm and somewhat irritated. “I can help here, and I feel fine. I’m staying.”
Eli chuckled. “It’s good to see your relationship back in form. I got nervous when you two were all friendly and concerned for each other’s well-being.”
Both Asher and Kansas sent Eli churlish glares.
Noelle made a T with her hands, signaling a time-out, and cleared her throat. “Um, folks, we have a kidnapped woman to find before she’s murdered. Can we focus on that now?”
Instantly the mood in the room shifted. Sobered.
“Of course,” Eli said, settling behind his desk and waking his desktop. “Who were you on the phone with when we came in? Is there any new information?”
