Page 83 of Her Devoted HERO

“Rosalie, the evidence is looking like he is. We don’t have enough to stand up in a court of law, or even get a search warrant at this point. That’s not what we’re asking for. We’re not cops. I’m asking as Kenna’s man, for your help to find her before she winds up dead.”

She was sitting on the pink sofa, looking frail but determined. Hunter was standing near the door, Dex was sitting next to her. She grabbed his hand with a surprisingly firm grip. “I’m not trying to plead his case. I just don’t want you to waste a minute on a wild goose chase, not with Kenna’s life hanging in the balance. Buddy has not killed anyone.”

“Ma’am, everything started after Buddy bought the website. The e-mails all came from a Starbucks not far from his house. The SDPD is working on finding footage of him there. He hasn’t been seen since yesterday morning. Do you know where he is?” Dex kept his voice calm. Barely.

“Dex, there has to be another reason for this. It isn’t him. Something is wrong. He was supposed to be here last night. He didn’t call. I called his office this morning, and he didn’t show up or phone in. Wouldn’t he do a better job of covering his tracks if he was planning to murder Kenna? Wouldn’t he at least come up with a cover story?”

What she was saying made sense, but everything pointed to Buddy. They didn’t have anything else at the moment, they needed to play this hand out. Still...

“Rosalie, I appreciate what you’re saying. I do.” He gave her hand a light squeeze. “But right now, everything is pointing toward him being our guy. Do you have any property that he might use near Poway?”

She closed her eyes. A tear trickled down her cheek. Then she opened them. “I have three rental houses near Wildcat Canyon Road.” She slowly pushed up from the couch.

“Stay there,” Dex said. He immediately had his phone in his hand and dialed Clint.

“Yeah?” Clint answered.

“I’ve got Rosalie here, she said that she has three rental properties near Wildcat Canyon Road that might fill the bill.”

“I haven’t found those.”

Dex put the phone on speaker. “Rosalie, tell Clint about the houses.”

“They’re three one-bedroom houses listed under the Sandrine Corporation. That was Rusty’s corporation. It was such a pretty name, I haven’t changed it.”

“Buddy knows about the houses?” Clint asked.

“Yes. But he’s not the man you’re looking for. I know you have to look. I’m pretty sure two of the houses are not being rented right now. You can ask Buddy’s secretary.”

“Found it,” Clint said. “I’m texting it to you and Hunter now.”

Dex got up off the sofa, Hunter was opening the door to the office.

“Even though I think you’re wrong, God speed.”

Dex looked at Rosalie’s face that for once looked its age. “Thank you.”

***

“What?” Hunter asked as they ran to their vehicles.

Dex followed Hunter to his truck and watched as he got in. He spoke as Hunter buckled up. “I’m going to follow you to the houses, but I might pull off on the way.”

“What the fuck?”

“She’s right, somebody could be setting Buddy up, and this could be a red herring. I’m going to have Clint look at other angles, but I still want those goddamn rentals looked at no matter what. You’re the man I trust to do it.”

Hunter grunted.

Dex ran to his jeep and followed Hunter as he sped out of the circular drive.

***

It took everything she had to tear her gaze away from the gun as he slid in beside her.

“Look at me. I want you to acknowledge me,” he said.

Her entire body trembled, the only thing keeping her together, were her hands on the steering wheel. She raised her head and looked at him. Who the hell was he? Whoever he was, he was angry. No, he was furious.