He shook it off, got back to the gnawing anxiety over Al.
Dan sat beside him, face lined with guilt. That wasn’t right. They both loved her, and both did their best. There’d been a lot of tension lately, but that was the truth of it. No one had been expecting an attack from within. Blackstone had seemed a haven up until now. The big guy’s face showed the strain of the past twelve hours, dark stubble lining his jaw and heavy shadows beneath his eyes. Finn knew the feeling.
Patience was non-existent, and frustration rode him hard.
Dan caught him looking and gave a tight nod. “Not far now.”
He nodded back, hoped it was reassuring.
Two of the other men sat further down the bed of the truck with guns in their laps, gazing at anything but him and Dan. No doubt skeptical they would find her in one piece. Idiots. She would be fine.
Dan sighed, staring off into the red dust clouds trailing behind them. “Andy’s a dead man.”
They’d spent the night searching for the little prick. He had been the one who told Dan that Ali had left in the first truck. He had also been the one who came across Lindsay’s body. What would have happened if they found him? He didn’t know. And there was the line in the sand. The moral quandary Finn could see himself stepping over. But he gave the same answer he had all night. “No. We can’t go there.”
“Sure we can.” Muscles jumped in the big guy’s jaw. “I have no problem with having his blood on my hands.”
All too believable.
Andy’s disappearance left a lot of unanswered questions. Unfortunately, he could hide, even in a small space like Blackstone.
Especially since they were newcomers, and Andy was the hometown boy. If he had crossed the wall then the chances of locating him were none. The last thing Al needed was Dan going out into the wilderness, guns blazing. They needed to stick together, all three of them. That would be the new rule, if he had to cuff himself to her to make it happen.
“She’s alive.” Finn had to be over the century mark on churning out the statement. Those words were as hollow as they had been each and every time.
Another nod from the man.
In between searching for Andy and worrying about Al, Finn had done a lot of thinking. Not just about the jealousy between them all lately, but also about Lindsay’s death. Turning over everything he had seen since arriving in town. Second guessing everything because nothing made sense, at least not to him.
“There were extra marks on Lindsay’s neck. Might have been fingerprints. But I’m no expert. I have no proof.” Finn rubbed his hand over the stubble on his jaw. “Why would someone want to kil her?”
Dan stared back at him. “Why would someone want to set up our girl?”
“I don’t know. But quit saying it was your fault.”
Dan said nothing.
Miles and miles of bushland passed them by.
Eventually, a neat line of houses surrounded by hip-high grass and weeds announced the beginning of another town. Erin dropped the speed to negotiate the typical assortment of cars and debris.
Everything was still. The town permanently asleep, already neglected. It wouldn’t be long till it verged on ruin.
She did not end here. She could not be dead.
Houses gave way to a line of shops. Lots of busted glass and dark patches on cement walkways. It was the same story everywhere, death and destruction.
And suddenly he was tired and cold. He realized if she was dead, then he wasn’t certain he wanted to live. He wouldn’t leave Dan on his own, but stil . Fear of commitment had nothing on this. She had ruined him for anyone else. Her prickles and quirks were as potent as her soft touches and tender ways.
She could get all fired up, but he could talk her down, get her under him, get inside her.
“Pony up,” murmured the big man.
There were no signs of a fresh kill nearby; the street was clear. The pick-up pulled up outside a typical country hardware store. The building had probably stood for eighty-odd years. They jumped down off the truck to the clicks of weapons being loaded. The others mil ed about, waiting on him and Dan to make the first move. And Dan did move.
Straight up the sidewalk, long legs striding into the cavern of the store. Finn followed, his blood thick with fear. The place looked wel -raided, rubbish strewn about.
“We’ll head downstairs.” One of the other two guys produced a flashlight and off they went.
Where was she?
“Yel ing isn’t smart,” Santa rumbled. Far too close.
He gave the guy the evil eye but it was true, he wanted to let loose, bring the hick town down around their ears, shouting her name.
Erin headed toward the back door and the street. Santa fel in behind her without further comment.
“I’m going to check out back,” said Finn.
“Yep.” Dan turned on his heel, stalked out the front door.
A noise on the roof had Finn's eyes and ears up. It was a scraping sound, followed by the creak of wooden beams. It wasn’t just the normal stretch and strain of an old building. Something was up there.