On the way, she and Jacoby devised a plan. Her guts were in knots, but she was prepared to do whatever necessary to find her family. As Jacoby neared the shopping center, he pulled over.
“You drive. I’ll hide. That way, if he’s watching for you, he’ll see that you’re alone. Per our plan, I’ll meet you out back.”
Evangeline waited while Jacoby laid down on the back seat. She drove into the shopping center and parked. After cutting the engine, she said, “I’ll leave the keys in the ignition.”
“Once he arrives, text me from the restroom, so I can move the car.”
“Got it,” she said. “Good luck.”
“No worries. I’ve got you.”
As she walked toward the entrance, she talked herself off the ledge.Stay calm and find them. The dive bar was busy, but not crowded. No Thomas Monty. She ponied up to the bar and ordered a beer. Though she had no stomach for it, she had to act like everything was normal. Like her sister and baby nephew hadn’t gone missing. Like the man she loved wasn’t pretending to be dead in order to avenge a man intent on killing him.
I’ve got this. I’ve got this.The words became her mantra.I’ve got this.
When the bartender placed the bottle down, she took a long draw, letting the cold liquid quench her parched throat. As a career law enforcement agent, she knew the first twenty-four hours were the most critical in a missing persons case. They’d already lost the first hour.
“You’re too beautiful to be sitting all alone,” said a guy beside her.
She glanced over. “Waiting on a friend.”
“Got room for one more?”
“You seem like a nice guy, but my life is complicated and—”
“Hey,” said a voice behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and did a double take. Joey had arrived, although, Joey didn’t look like Joey anymore,at all.
Thomas Monty had buzzed off his dark brown hair to a short, blond military cut. Dark blond stubble covered his jawline. Instead of wearing his usual flannel shirt and jeans, he’d dressed in an expensive-looking tan sweater and brown dress pants.
“Hey, I hardly recognize you.” Though her skin crawled, she rose to hug him. She wanted to scream at him and demand information, but, instead she offered a smile. “What’s going on?”
As he squeezed in beside her, the stench of stale booze and cigarettes nauseated her. But none of that mattered. She had a job to do. Time to get laser-focused.
The guy beside her moved over one stool. “Hey, man, take my seat.”
Evangeline tossed the stranger a nod. “Thanks.”
As soon as Monty sat, he motioned for the bartender. “A double shot of tequila and whatever’s on tap.”
She slid off her stool. “Be right back. Bio break.” Once in the bathroom stall, she texted Jacoby. “He’s here. He’s been drinking and he changed his appearance. Short blond hair.”
Returning to the bar, she slipped onto the stool. He’d already tossed back the tequila and downed half the beer.
“Your new look is super sexy. What’s up with that?”
He held her gaze an extra beat. Then, he broke away to guzzle more beer. “I got a job in Florida and I’m headed down there in the morning.”
He was a master at not answering her questions.
What the hell have you done with my family?Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to gaze into his eyes. “Damn, I thought we had a…never mind.”
His eyebrows jutted up. “Had a what?”
“I’m too much of a sinner for a pastor, anyway.”
He licked his lips. “I thought you and Develin were together.”
We sure as hell are.“He was a one-night distraction.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Plus, I caught the news. He’s dead, so he’s outa the picture.”
