Chapter 2
Daniel’s face changed for only a second.
Then the pleasant smile returned.
“Emily is confused,” he said. “My wife hasn’t been well.”
Emily recoiled when he moved toward her.
Bear noticed.
So did every other person in the diner.
“Stay away from me,” Emily whispered.
Daniel stopped and lowered his voice.
“Think about Sophie.”
At the mention of my granddaughter, Emily went silent.
I grabbed her hand.
“Where is she?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Safe at home.”
Emily began shaking.
“He locked her bedroom door before he followed me.”
I lunged toward him, but Bear caught my shoulder.
“Call the police,” he told the waitress.
Daniel laughed.
“Go ahead. Sheriff Cole knows exactly who the criminal is.”
The confidence in his voice terrified me.
Cole was Daniel’s cousin.
Daniel reached inside his coat.
Three bikers stepped forward.
He slowly pulled out his phone instead.
“There’s an arrest warrant for Margaret,” he said. “Harboring her will make all of you accomplices.”
Bear took the phone, glanced at the screen, and handed it back.
“That warrant was issued twenty minutes ago.”
Daniel shrugged.
“Justice can be fast.”
“No,” Bear said. “But corruption can.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Emily clung to me.
Two patrol cars stopped beside the diner.
Sheriff Cole entered with his hand near his holster.
“Margaret Hayes,” he announced. “You’re under arrest.”
Daniel smiled at me over his cousin’s shoulder.
Bear leaned close to my ear.
“Don’t fight them. We’ll get the girl.”
May you like
Then Daniel whispered something only I could hear.
“If they reach Sophie, they’ll find an empty room.”
