Defending Bridget - P.J. Fiala Page 0,26

from his pocket. "Sophie sent me Bridget's address. Her mom is there. It's only about a mile from here."

"Let's go." Carefully handing his evidence to the police officer, he said, "You'll make sure we're notified when you have identified the substance being used?"

"Yes, sir." She pulled a small notebook from her pocket. "Gaige Vickers has given a command about all contact information and from what my Chief tells me, he'll be contacting our office often to make sure he knows what's happening."

Axel nodded. "Thank you."

"Yes, sir. Thank you for what you are doing. I admire it."

Axel paused. Usually, Gaige wouldn't offer up much information about what they did for a living, but he must have had to make an exception to ensure information probably because of the women who’d been taken.

Nodding at the officer he started walking to the rental. Stopping quickly, he turned to the officer once again. "Thank you for what you are doing. We all need each other."

The officer smiled and for the first time he thought she was an attractive woman, even in her uniform.

Jumping into the rental he and Josh headed out of the lot as Josh gave him the directions from his phone.

"Turn right up ahead onto Mile Road."

Glancing all around for anything that looked out of place he tried to stem the rising frustration surrounding Bridget's capture and the fact that he was about to meet Aidyn. Both of these situations were awkward. The last thing he wanted to do was to protect the boyfriend or husband of a woman he'd slept with and still thought about. His jaw clenched and his teeth ground.

"You keep grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw you're going to have all kinds of trouble. What's with you lately?"

"Nothing."

"Doesn't seem like nothing. As a matter of fact, it seems like something. So, other than the fact that you and Bridget slept together about five years ago, was there more?"

"No."

"Hmm..." Josh turned to look at his phone again. "The next house on the left."

He slowed down then pulled into the driveway. It was a nice little house. A small ranch-style house with a two-car garage. The white siding and the burgundy trim and shutters contrasted with the green trees and fields surrounding it. The blacktop driveway was freshly done and the deep black leading up to the white house impressed Axel. Neat. Tidy. Nice.

There were no cars in the driveway and the shades had been pulled.

He swallowed. Back where he came from the only time you closed all the shades during the day was when the family was in mourning. I suppose they were in a sense. But he'd do whatever he could to find her. There'd be no stopping him.

Inhaling to fill his lungs he unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the rental vehicle. Josh was about two steps ahead of him. Walking to the front door his stomach twisted but he concentrated on keeping his breathing even and steady.

Josh knocked on the door and a voice sounded from a microphone.

"Who is there?"

Axel looked up and saw the camera trained on them. "Axel Dunbar and Josh Masters. We were sent here by Sophie Vickers."

"Okay. Do you have ID?"

Both he and Josh pulled out their badges, which looked official like law enforcement ones, but actually were only gold badges that said "Special Operative" in case they needed them, much like now.

The turning locks on the other side of the door had him turning to face the door. Josh stood in front of him, but he easily peered over Josh's shoulder.

The door opened, only an inch at first, Josh held his badge up for a closer look and the woman behind the door seemed satisfied enough to open it all the way.

"I'm sorry. I'm so shaken up by..." She turned and looked behind her, then back to them. Her voice softened when she finished her sentence. "By Bridget's disappearance."

Her eyes teared up and she took a deep breath. Opening the screen door still between them, she smiled weakly and said, "Please, come in."

She stepped back allowing them entrance and he looked around at the house. It seemed so much like Bridget. Everything was neat and tidy; the furniture was no nonsense brown leather furniture in good shape and clean. No frilly floral sofa or chairs or curtains. Everything went together but was a sensible color and style.

When his eyes turned back to the woman, he was disconcerted to see her staring at him, her brows bunched together.

He held his