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But Duke still had so many questions.
He began pacing as he waited for Gibson to wrap up a phone call.
When Gibson put his phone away a few minutes later, his expression was notably darker. “Officer Bosch was heading here when he came across an SUV abandoned on the side of the road. It was yours, Duke.”
Duke’s eyes widened. “That’s good news, I guess. Was anyone inside?”
“No, it was empty. But whoever stole it left a bobblehead doll behind . . . and a note.” Gibson frowned.
Andi gasped as she moved to stand beside him. Duke wasn’t surprised she’d been listening.
“What?” she rushed. “What did the note say?”
Gibson’s cheek flinched into a deeper frown before he said, “It read, ‘Those who disobey must be punished.’”
Duke pressed his eyes closed. That was exactly what he feared. He and Andi were now targets. This guy would watch them and, if they got too close to the truth, he would strike.
“There’s more.” Gibson’s expression remained stony with apprehension. “Footprints led from the SUV.”
“Okay . . .” Duke wasn’t sure where the trooper was going with this.
He touched the belt at his waist. “The SUV was left about two hundred yards from the Almost Halfway Trading Post. The trail leads from the vehicle toward the building.”
Andi grabbed Duke’s arm as she glanced up at him, worry in her gaze. “We’ve got to let Simmy know. Did the officer go to warn her?”
“He was going to check out the trading post and let me know,” Gibson said.
“Let me try Simmy’s number,” Duke muttered.
But the phone at the trading post just rang and rang.
Duke glanced at Andi and frowned. “There’s no answer.”
“No answer? How can there be no answer?” Andi’s voice rose.
“I don’t like the sound of this.” Gibson shook his head.
“We’ve got to go check on her.” Andi’s jaw hardened with determination.
“I’m afraid I can’t leave the scene right now.” Gibson frowned as his gaze alternated between Andi and Duke.
“I saw a snow machine underneath the house.” A new excitement—the eagerness of new possibility—filled Andi’s voice. “Can we take that? Please? We have to check on Simmy. She could be in danger . . . and she might not even know it.”
Duke glanced at Gibson, waiting for his reaction.
But he liked Andi’s idea . . . and he knew he would head out to check on Simmy any way he could, whether the state trooper approved or not.
chaptertwenty-one
Ten minutes later,Andi and Duke climbed onto the snow machine.
It was biting cold, but Andi and Duke had found two snowsuits. Andi’s was too big, and Duke’s was too small. But they’d made them work. They’d also found two helmets.
“I’ll keep trying to call Trooper Bosch,” Gibson said as he stood beside them. “I’ve tried to follow up, but he’s not answering either. Let’s hope it’s a cell phone signal issue. In the meantime, be careful.”
“Will do,” Duke confirmed before pulling down the front of his helmet.
Andi didn’t like the implications of any of this. But she couldn’t stand by idly and do nothing. Not when her friend could be in danger.
