“Tell me why her words hit you so hard,” he said, and when she didn’t answer, he said, “Fine, then stay where you are. I’ll find Natalie on my own.”
“You won’t,” she snapped as he started to turn away. “I know how she thinks. You, on the other hand, are convinced that she is some innocent, helpless creature who needs you.” She reminded him that Natalie had played him after he’d tried to help her.
“Okay,” he conceded, keeping his back to her. “Maybe she wasn’t as traumatized as she appeared.”
“You think? You’d better hope we find her before whoever held her captive does. I’m betting he’s also looking for her and will try to abduct her again. You need me.”
He smiled to himself as he turned back to her. “And you need me. So...”
“She said Tricia didn’t kill herself.”
He felt the weight of words fall on him. What the—? “What does that mean?”
“Natalie was probably lying. Trying to save her own skin. But if there is a chance she was telling the truth...”
Brick shook his head. “That explains why you looked so shocked. You must have thought there was more than a chance she was telling the truth. But if so—”
“Then someone killed her.”
“Why would someone kill your sister?”
“That’s what I have to find out. So, are you going to help me or not?” Mo let go of the bars and met his gaze. “I’ll tell you everything. Just get me out of here so I can find her—before someone else gets to her.”
Her last words shook him more than he wanted to admit. Natalie had already been abducted and held captive. He didn’t doubt that there were others who were determined to see that the woman paid for what they believed she’d done. Mo had been one of them, he knew. Had a few words from Natalie really changed that?
“We find her.” He waited for her to agree. “We do this together or you stay where you are. I posted your bond. I keep my investment safe by not letting you out of my sight.”
“Fine.” She motioned impatiently for him to unlock the cell.
He hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake as he inserted the key. “I already picked up your belongings.”
“My car?”
“You won’t be needing it. My truck’s outside,” he said as he turned the cell door key.
“My car would be more comfortable, not to mention, I’m an ace driver.”
“I’m sure you are. That’s why I can just see you leaving me high and dry.”
“Have you always been so suspicious?” she asked as they headed out of the building.
“Apparently, since I spotted you for the fake you were quickly enough at the hospital.”
She rolled her eyes as they walked together toward the parking lot. “I thought I made a pretty believable nurse.” Her gaze locked with his for a moment. “Until I had to kick your butt.”
He laughed. “Yes, there is that score to settle yet.”
“Until next time.”
“Only next time I’ll see you coming.”
She chuckled. “Just keep telling yourself that,” she said over her shoulder as she continued down the sidewalk.
* * *
“MAUREEN?”
They were almost to the parking lot when she turned to see the man who’d called her name coming down the sidewalk toward her. She was as shocked to see her brother-in-law here as he sounded to see her.
“It is you,” Thomas said as he reached her and Brick. “I saw you coming out of the jail...” His gaze sharpened. “What are you doing in Big Sky?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Mo said, taken off guard by seeing him here of all places. Since her sister’s funeral, she’d been avoiding him and felt guilty about it. But Thomas reminded her of all Tricia’s hopes and dreams now gone forever. He’d also made it clear that he wanted to put Natalie and the rest behind him, something she couldn’t do. “What are you doing here?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I’m here on business. Life does go on, Maureen. But it seems you know that. You’re back at work?” He shot a glance at the law enforcement building. He thought she was here also working—certainly not just being released from jail.
She didn’t answer as she looked past him to the cute brunette with him. Her eyes narrowed.
Following her gaze, he turned and drew the young woman into the conversation. “This is Quinn Pierson. We work together.” He sounded defensive.
Mo instantly regretted making him feel that way. Thomas had been through enough with the loss of his son