“Okay, I’m going to need you to call the detective immediately. Don’t call the colonel.” I’m moving around, getting my jacket and keys, heading for the door. Everyone else has stopped talking and instead watches me with confused faces.
“Sure, but don’t you want to know the results of Connor Maddox’s blood test?”
Jesus, bud, spit it out.
I run a hand over my beard, a chill sweeping down my spine. “Hit me with it.”
“He was roofied. By the timeline and amount still in his system when he got picked up a few hours later, he would have been experiencing memory loss, drowsiness, struggling to focus or keep his eyes open.”
Jesus. This would topple the entire case with the other evidence as well. “Could people have assumed he was drunk?”
“Absolutely. The effect would have been worse, considering his blood alcohol content was so high. Between you and me, the guy was so far over the limit, he wouldn’t have been able to cut up a sandwich, let alone stab someone.”
“Call the detective, Kenny. Let him know.”
“Will do. Thank you, Dr. Jones.”
I hang up on Kenny. I need to call Katie immediately.
“When did Katie leave?” I start dialing her number as I point at Lottie.
She stutters, her hands wringing in front of her stomach, her eyes darting around the room as Caleb puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I...I don’t know, maybe twenty-five minutes ago. She said it would take her about thirty minutes to drive there.”
“She’s gone to Connor Maddox’s house?” I shout, my eyes bulging.
“Y...yes, we were discussing the case. We were talking about the possibility of more bodies being in the house, as it would have been easier to conceal than in the backyard.” Her voice wobbles again, and Caleb pulls her in for a tight hug.
“And you let her go alone?” I snap. “To a crime scene where you thought there might be more victims.”
Caleb lets her go, taking a step toward me,blocking me from Lottie. “Hey, calm down. This isn’t Lottie’s fault.”
“We’ll get hold of her and ask her to wait in her car and meet us there. How about that?” Alfie says calmly, like he wasn’t barking orders at all of us when Mia went missing last year.
I push my fingers through my hair before wiping my hand over my mouth.
I need to find her.
I need to find her right fucking now.
Answer your goddamn phone, princess.
I grab my keys and head for the door. If I’m fast, I can get there in twenty minutes.
“We’re coming with you,” Caleb says, pulling on his jacket with Alfie close behind.
Alfie kisses Mia, and I almost lose it. “There’s no time for that. Stay, or I’m leaving without you.”
“Now, who has a stick up his ass? See you soon, love. Everything will be fine,” Alfie says, dropping a kiss to her forehead.
“Be careful, please.” She boops his nose in an infuriating display of intimacy when my girl could be walking into danger.
“Hurry the fuck up, Alfie.”
He gives me his signature eye roll as Mia gives me the finger.
???
Caleb drives because I’m too wired, and even though he’s breaking the speed limit, it’s still not fast enough. Katie hasn’t answered her phone, which is not unnecessarily abnormal, but I’m not happy about it.
