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“No. Realtors don’t tend to make enemies.”
“What about her competition? Any one exceptionally aggressive about getting listings?”
Gabe dropped into the chair. “I don’t know the answers to these questions. You guys know Chloe—well, as well as anyone can know her. She hardly talks about any of this stuff. Josh might know, but I can’t find him either. He’s not at home, a uniform knocked on the door. And his cell phone is turned off.”
“Last known location?”
Buck smacked his desk. “Why didn’t I think of that earlier? I was so focused on Chloe that I didn’t look to see where Josh’s phone pinged off a tower last. I’ll look.” He spun toward his computer and started searching.
Gabe ran his hand through his hair.
Aliza came over and knelt down half in front of him and half in front of Poirot. “Hey.” She cupped the side of Gabe’s head. “Have faith.” She scratched Poirot’s ear. “You too.”
The dog didn’t flinch. If he’d been human, you would have expected his bottom lip to start quivering.
Gabe swallowed. “I need to call my mom.”
“You haven’t done that yet?” Aliza’s words were the sweetest an accusation could sound.
He didn’t respond.
“I’ll call her—”
“Her heart.” His mom had an arrhythmia. He worried that a start like this might be a problem for her.
“How about I send Gio to go get her and your dad?” Gio Crespi was one of her team members who had a knack for helping people relax when their loved ones were in danger.
He nodded.
She stood and kissed his cheek before going to talk to Gio.
He rested his elbows on his knees.God, help Chloe. Please.
“Found it.” Buck tapped his shoulder. “Is his office building in this triangle?”
Gabe looked at the screen that showed the triangulation of cell towers where Josh’s phone had pinged. “Nope.”
“Says most of these are doctors’ offices. Maybe he had an appointment.”
“Let’s go find out.” Gabe jumped to his feet. Poirot did the same.
Chloe had stuck a business card she’d found in her coat pocket in the side of a tree and walked about fifty yards, and she could barely see the tiny turquoise dot of the card. Good thing she liked bright colors. If it had been more subtle, like her colleague had recommended, it would have been useless now.
But this method wasn’t working any better for her today than it had for her and Owen when they got lost.
She took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Then, with her eyes closed, she listened.
The wind blew through the trees, causing a few to creak.
A small animal rustled in the undergrowth.
Her mind wanted to race, but she shushed herself and focused. Was there anything else? Anything that would help?
A twig cracked as if a larger animal had stepped on it. Probably a deer. Hopefully not a bear.
Then she heard it. A slight gurgle. There was a stream nearby.
She opened her eyes and rotated her body until she could determine the direction it came from. Abandoning her business card, she moved toward the sound, stopping every few yards to listen and adjust her course.
