“Of course, ma’am,” he replied with a nod. “With your permission, I’d like to send a small team in here to do a thorough search of your house and property. Make sure he’s not hiding somewhere.”
“You think he could already be here?” My voice rose in pitch, hair on the back of my neck standing up. I couldn’t shake the feeling someone was watching me. It couldn’t have been Nick, though.
Could it?
The prison was about ninety miles from here. If the crash happened fifty miles away, that was still forty miles. The only way he’d be able to make that distance in such a short amount of time was if he had a car.
God, I prayed he didn’t have a car.
The only thing that gave me anything remotely resembling peace of mind was the fact he was on foot. That he probably wouldn’t be able to outrun the authorities.
That all changed if he had transportation.
“This is simply a routine check. Particularly after the warden informed us of your meeting with him yesterday and the threats he made. So we’d like to take a look around.”
I hugged myself, trying to ward off the chills trickling down my spine. “Of course.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He turned, signaling a handful of uniformed officers hovering outside to enter my home.
As they headed in every direction, weapons drawn, all I could do was try to wrap my mind around this new reality.
Nick had escaped prison.
He was on the loose.
He could be anywhere.
“I, uh… I should probably go,” Ethan said, cutting through my anxiety.
I flung my eyes to his. I’d forgotten he was even here. Forgotten everything he’d come over to share. That he’d found evidence connecting Daxton, one of the team owners, to not only these recent murders, but also Nick.
Circumstantial evidence, but evidence nonetheless.
“It looks like you have your hands full here. Plus, I could really use some sleep.” He ran a hand over his weary face. “You’ll be okay? Keep me updated if you hear anything?”
“Of course.”
“Good.” He stepped toward me, hugging me. “Be safe,” he whispered shakily.
“I will.”
He held me a moment before releasing me and saying his goodbyes to Lachlan, then Imogene. It didn’t matter they’d never met. He knew who she was. Hopefully with everything else going on, Imogene wouldn’t ask who he was and what he was doing here. I wasn’t sure how I’d explain it. I still struggled to make sense of it myself. Still wondered if Nick’s escape was purely a coincidence or if it were directly related to my visit yesterday.
I feared it was.
Once Ethan left, Lachlan spun toward me, eyes intense. Determined. Fierce.
“Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to California today, like we’d planned.” He looked at Imogene. “All of us.” He refocused his attention on me. “After the game Monday, I’ll fly you and Imogene to Hawaii before coming back for the first game of the playoffs. Provided we win these next few games. You two will be safe there.”
I blinked, mouth slackening, slowly shaking my head. “You want me to…leave?”
“Why wouldn’t you? It’s safer than staying here.”
I gaped at him, not believing my ears. Then I faced Imogene, gritting out a smile.
“Can you give us a minute, sweetie? Stay where I can see you. I just need to speak with Lachlan for a moment.”
“This involves me, too.” She placed a hand on her hip, holding her head high, exuding confidence and determination. “I should be a part of the conversation and decision.”