AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s possible Hillary moved away to hide her pregnancy. She came back to speak to the father and ended up in some kind of altercation.” Chase turned over the possibilities in his mind. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot we don’t know. Like where she is now. And how she and Anna ended up on your property.”
Aiden frowned. “The road running alongside Faith’s property is a shortcut across town. If we assume Hillary and Anna were in a car, it’s possible the attacker was driving. We found tire tracks embedded in the dirt. Someone took that route after the rainstorm.”
Chase nodded, catching up to Aiden’s train of thought. “Let’s assume Hillary, Anna, and the perpetrator were in a car together. There’s a fight or an altercation. Hillary hops out of the vehicle with Anna and starts running. She’s lost and desperate.”
“Why not just run up to the house?” Holly asked. “The porch lights are bright enough to be seen.”
Chase considered the question. The image of the footprints in Faith’s yard flashed in his mind. “She headed that way, but her attacker was too close. She diverted to the barn. Maybe to hide. She might’ve been hoping he would assume she went to the house.”
“Except he wasn’t fooled.” Faith’s voice was hollow. “He followed Hillary into the barn and attacked her. Then he carried her back to his car before returning to the barn for Anna.”
Chase placed a hand over Faith’s. He didn’t like to think about how close she’d come to losing her life. There was no doubt in his mind that the attacker would’ve killed her, as he’d likely done with Hillary. “We should put out a BOLO for Hillary’s car and list her as critically missing.”
BOLO was short for be-on-the-lookout. Every officer in the state would be searching for Hillary’s car. And for her.
Aiden nodded. “It’s already done. I—”
Holly screamed. She jumped from her chair and pointed to the yard. Her whole body was shaking. “Someone’s out there. I saw a face in the window.”
Chase leapt to his feet. “Aiden, stay with them and call for backup.”
He palmed his weapon and went out the back door. His boots thumped against the wood porch. The cold air cut through his thin T-shirt, but there wasn’t time to grab a jacket. Every second counted. His gaze scanned the yard. A figure, barely discernible beyond the porch light, was streaking across the grass. Male. Dark clothes. He was headed for the tree line.
Oh no, you don’t.
Chase bolted after him.
