it never came. That was good. She’d been diagnosed with a concussion in the emergency room last night. Sleeping must’ve helped.
Emilia took the cup from Bennett and sipped. The cool liquid soothed her raw throat. She crooked her finger, indicating Bennett should come closer. He did, and Emilia brushed her lips against his. The bristles on his chin scraped against her skin.
His green eyes warmed, and the look melted her insides. She didn’t need Bennett to say what he was feeling. Last night had been terrifying for both of them.
And it wasn’t over yet. The killer was still out there.
“Any news?” she asked.
Bennett perched on the edge of her bed. “Not much. Mark was able to give a statement last night, but he didn’t see anything helpful. A masked man broke in, knocked Mark out, and then set fire to the house. Valerie never saw the intruder. She was sleeping and woke up when the fire alarms went off. Their house is destroyed.”
Emilia’s hand tightened on the plastic cup, crumpling it. “It was a well-planned ruse to get to me. And a dangerous one. The whole family could’ve been killed.”
“My ranch security is too difficult for the killer to get through, so yes, he set the neighbor’s house on fire knowing we would render aid. I also don’t think it was an accident my family was gone when it happened. It was the only way to ensure you would be with me, instead of my dad or Grayson. The killer must’ve been watching for the right moment.”
“He’s patient and smart.” She leaned against the pillow. “And he’s not going to stop. I’m worried, Bennett. He failed last night. What will he do next?”
“Let’s pray he’s holed up somewhere nursing his injuries. I’m almost sure one of my bullets grazed him, although it wasn’t enough to keep the killer from escaping in his truck. Claire is monitoring hospitals in the surrounding areas in case someone comes in with a bullet wound.”
The next few hours were a blur of activity. Emilia had another MRI to verify her concussion was healing enough she could go home. Sage brought extra clothes and toiletries to the hospital. A shower, some coffee, and breakfast went a long way. By the time Emilia signed the discharge paperwork, she was feeling like herself again.
A knock came on the open door of the hospital room and Claire walked in. Dark circles shadowed the skin under her eyes, but her hair was in a neat bun and her uniform ironed. She carried a folder in one hand.
Emilia’s heart sank. “You aren’t bringing good news, are you?”
“I’m afraid not. We have a new missing woman.” Claire pulled out a photograph. “Gretchen Knight. Twenty-six. She was kidnapped in the early-morning hours while opening the bakery.”
Bennett took the picture. Emilia drew closer to look over his shoulder. Gretchen was dark-haired and pretty with a smattering of freckles across her nose.
An indescribable rage filled Emilia and heated her blood. “The killer failed with me so then he took Gretchen.”
“It would appear that way, although I suspect he was stalking Gretchen for a while. The bakery doesn’t have great surveillance cameras, but a black truck was in the parking lot. It matches your description, Bennett, of the vehicle the killer escaped in last night. Gretchen had complained to her boss about the same truck hanging around the bakery for the last several weeks.”
“Did the camera catch the license plate?” he asked.
“Registered to a vehicle in Dallas. The plates were stolen six months ago, so that’s a dead end.” Claire rubbed her eyes. “But there’s more. Henry Stillman and his wife are gone.”
Emilia sank onto the bed. “What do you mean gone?”
“Henry and his wife, Jackie, both called into their respective jobs and took immediate vacation time. No one has seen them since yesterday afternoon.”
“What about John? He’s their next-door neighbor and Jackie’s brother.”
“He doesn’t know where they are.” Claire’s mouth tightened. “But I don’t believe him. John is a property manager. He has access to numerous rental homes, some of which are standing empty at the moment. Henry and his wife could be hiding out in one, but proving that is difficult.”
“Or they could be halfway to Mexico,” Emilia said. “Jackie was terrified yesterday when we discussed Alice’s disappearance. She knew something but was too scared to say what. Maybe she told Henry, and they left town. Where was Malcolm last night?”
“At home, alone. However, we were able to verify his alibi for the night