He was trying very hard not to think of all theworsts, but Lia’s calm, factual determinations made it impossible.
She reached out and grabbed his arms. “I need you to tell me everything about that case.”
His brain felt scrambled, because he needed to know howsheknew all this stuff, but he didn’t have time. Ifanythingshe was saying was true, he had to find Sammy. Now.
So he told her what he knew. She stood there and listened. He’d never seen this expression on her face. So serious, so grim.
Laurel approached them, but he’d managed to tell Lia just about everything at that point.
“We’ve got Sammy on video going out the back of the theater, which points to her meeting your sister out there like the text message said. But no one was caught on video in the back in the right time frame, so if it was Dani, she stayed out of sight. We’re going to canvas the parking lot, see if we can find anyone who saw something.”
Gard nodded. He glanced at Lia and that serious expression he’d never seen. “I want us looking for Roger Hamilton—the guy who used the Dry Road address. On top of anyone in that security video of the drug deal.”
“We can poke into those different angles, Fairhurst. I get that you’re worried, and I’m going to do everything to help, but keep in mind it’s kind of a leap. Just because Dani was in that drug deal video doesn’t mean Sammy’s disappearance connects beyond Dani wanting to talk to her daughter. They could have gone somewhere to talk privately. I’m willing to investigate, but this might not be worst case scenario.”
“I’d love that to be the case, but I can’t hope for better and not prepare for worse. Not with Sammy at risk. You need to look into Roger Hamilton.”
“I really don’t see how the job offer Dani got—”
“It connects,” Lia said firmly, earning her a very suspicious glare from Laurel.
“That house you went to when you broke your nose, Gard. Dani had that address. I know you didn’t find anything, but there’s something to that,” Lia said, clearly not fazed by Laurel’s hard look. “And it connecting to the guy who offered her this shady job means there’s something to that too.”
“There wasn’t any evidence of anything going on in that house except drugs,” Laurel said, still eyeing Lia suspiciously. “MaybeRoger Hamilton wasn’t in the drug deal security footage, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t just…drugs.”
“Gard, Dani has disappeared a lot on you before because of drugs. Does this follow any pattern of those times?” Lia demanded.
He couldn’tcountthe ways this had been abnormal, and he’d just kept having to shove that knowledge away, convinced he was grasping for straws. And now…it was possible he wasn’t.
He felt sick to his stomach. “No.”
“No, because it’s notjustdrugs. It’s something more. Something bigger. That house with the drugs is likely a…staging area, you’d call it. A centralized party location. So yes, drugs. But they’re doing the deals in Hardy, and they’re keeping Danisomewhereout of sight. If there are other missing women… No one would bekeptat the party house. But they’d be nearby. What about some kind of outbuilding on the property? Or a cellar? Not in sight of the house, but close.”
Gard looked over at Laurel, who was staring at Lia with that same suspicion. But she didn’t voice it.
“I’d have to double-check with Beckett, but I don’t think they got a warrant to search the property beyond the house,” Laurel said.
Gard exchanged a look with Lia. He wasn’t waiting for any damn warrant, and clearly she didn’t think he should either.
“I’ll work on a search warrant for the surrounding property,” Laurel said, like she could read his mind. “Look, I know you have to find her, and you’re not on duty so whatever you’re about to do is your business. I’m not telling you not to. All I’m saying is we also want to put these guys behind bars, so while me and the other Bent County officers on duty are following the letter of the law…try not to get in the way of that.”
Gard didn’t say anything.
“I’ll put Beckett on finding Roger Hamilton. Hart will hold down the fort here, see if we can track down someone who saw something. I’ll coordinate warrants and whatever else we need. Leave your cell on in case we find her,” Laurel said, then she strode away.
Gard took Lia by the arm, began ushering her out of the theater. “Can Albennie come pick you up? Or Franny? Hell, I can call Royal and—”
“I’m coming with you, Gard.”
“You can’t come with, Lia.”
“I have to,” she replied stubbornly. “I know what you need to look for and look out for. I’m the best chance you’ve got.”
Yeah, he really wanted to knowhow, but he didn’t have time. “This is police business.”
“You’re not going as a cop. You’re going as an uncle. And a brother. Which means it’s not police business for you. Which means I’m goingwithyou.”
“I’m going with agun.”
