“Building personnel.”
Payton nodded. “My guess is they were taken to give up a location on a building they were working on. I can’t get into any of the military records to see what. So either they didn’t know or took the secret to the grave.”
“Which leaves your father. The last person that would know where it could be.”
Payton shuddered at the thought of what could be happening to her father. He was tough, but he was getting older. These people weren’t above torture to get what they wanted. Payton had seen the case files on those that had been found. It was a gruesome sight. “We have to get back to town. He’s in that warehouse; I’m sure of it.” She’d never been more certain of anything in her life.
“Let’s pack up then and head out.”
Payton nodded, eager to find her dad, when Alex’s phone rang. The only person she could think it would be was Colin. Did he have an update?
“Yeah?” He was silent a moment then his eyes flashed to her. Why was he looking at her like that? Like he was being told someone just ran over her dog. “Are you sure? Okay, thanks. We’ll be down soon. We’ve been staying at Nick’s cabin just outside of town. We’ll be there shortly. Thanks, buddy.” Alex stuffed his phone back in his pocket.
“No,” she whispered, already fearing what he was going to say. The forlorn look on his face was a giveaway.
“Payton,” his voice sounded strained like he was fighting back tears. “I’m so sorry.” He walked toward her slowly, as if she were a skittish colt.
Payton started backpedaling. She didn’t want his comfort, verbally or physically. “It’s not true. Tell me it’s not true.” She wasn’t above begging him to tell her it wasn’t true. But Alex didn’t deny it. He didn’t tell her he was misinformed. That somehow Colin got it all wrong.
“Colin said Nick was found a little while ago.”
And he wasn’t alive. That’s what Alex was leaving unsaid. “Why didn’t someone call me then? Why did Colin call you?”
“It was a courtesy call. I’m sure the police will be calling you shortly.”
“The police I work for?” Payton shook her head not believing that. “My boss would be the first one to call me if they found my dad.”
Alex stepped in front of her, holding her biceps to prevent her from retreating anymore. “Payton, I know this is hard to accept.”
“No.” She smacked his hands off of her, stepping away from him. She refused to believe her father was dead. She didn’t know how Alex could think that either. “He’s not dead,” she spoke venomously. None of this made sense.
“I know this is hard to accept.”
“It’s not, because it’s not true. Dad knows something these people want. Why would they kill him?”
“Maybe they got what they wanted, or he refused so they cut their losses.”
Payton folded her arms over her chest, glaring him down. “They went through this whole elaborate plan to attack these bases, kidnap my dad to just give up when they have him? You don’t honestly believe that, do you?”
Alex took a deep breath like it was a struggle to keep his tone even. “All I know is what Colin told me, and he told me Nick was found dead.”
“But who told him?” she argued. She refused to believe her father was dead. Not after everything that had happened. This elaborate plan to get to her father couldn’t just end like this.
“Why are you playing detective?” he asked defensively.
“I am one, dumbass.” Her voice cracked as harshly as a whip.
Alex stood tall and proud looking down at her like she was a stranger and not his recent lover. His face void of emotion. “You’re upset, I get it. But it’s over, Payton. Let’s pack up and go back to town. I’ll take you to your father and you can say your goodbyes.” He was placating her. Thinking she was a weak-willed woman who was acting hysterically. Unable to accept the truth, her father was dead. On the contrary, she’d never been more levelheaded. Intuition told her that her father was still very much alive. It was a lie, but why? To lure her out of hiding? Most likely.
Payton wasn’t an idiot. She was the only leverage they could use against her father. That’s why Wallace and Jonas were trying to capture her.
Her father was alive, and she was going to prove it. She’d ride with him since he drove up, but once they were back in town, they’d go their separate ways. She wasn’t willing to give up as easily as he was.
She didn’t care if nobody else believed her. Payton knew for a certainty, her father was being held in his warehouse. As soon as they got back to town, she’d go straight to the building and get her dad.
“Alright, I’ll go pack my bags.” She put sadness in her voice and looked down at her feet so he wouldn’t see that she wasn’t actually upset.
“Alright,” Alex pulled her close and held her tightly to his chest, “I’m so sorry, baby.”