“That’s the understatement of the year.”
“Payton is missing.”
“What?” Colin’s voice crackled with anger, something rarely heard outside of the battlefield anymore. Colin was normally an easygoing guy.
“She left. I told her Nick was found. She argued it was a ruse.”
“Why would she think that? It’s all over the news.”
“Because the police didn’t call her and notify her. That only you called me. She said it was to lure her out of hiding. That it was all lies. I tried to convince her otherwise. I thought I did. She said she was going to go to her room and pack, and I just checked on her, but she’s gone. She escaped through a hatch Nick built that leads down a tunnel.”
“Leave it to Nick to always have an escape plan,” Colin mumbled.
Alex jumped into the car and sped down the path. “She’s headed to a warehouse in Nick’s name. She’s convinced that’s where he’s being held.”
“Alone?” Colin asked, shocked.
“She didn’t exactly give me a choice. Look, you’re closer. I’m still about forty minutes outside of town, and she had a thirty minute head start on me.”
“Say no more. Just give me the address.”
Alex rattled it off. He wanted to punch the gas but knew that would most likely end in a car crash than getting down the mountain safely. “Any news on the flash drive?”
“Unfortunately not, but now that we know who Smith and Jones really are, we should be able to track them to their boss. At least we can give Nick closure that way.”
Every time Nick’s death was brought up, it was like a knife in Alex’s heart. “That we will. I’ll see you when I get into town.” Alex hung up and drove as quickly as was safe. The nice part about being up here was there wasn’t a lot of traffic. Maybe he might get back into town faster than he thought.
Chapter 26
Payton circled the building then stopped a block away from the abandoned warehouse so she didn’t alert anyone who might be watching that she was there. His captors were most likely still there. She had a perfect view of the front entrance. There was only one main entrance. All the windows on the first and second floor were boarded up. Her best point of entry was either the front door or if there were windows to the basement level.
Payton studied the place with a critical eye. The front door would be too obvious. She was sure they had an alarm or cameras. Why else keep her father there without eyes on people sneaking up? Her eyes looked around the nearest buildings. She had an eerie feeling looking at all the easy hiding spots for someone to watch the place. There was no cover coming up to the place except from the rear. Her best bet was to circle around to the back.
Payton checked her rifle and handgun before moving. Her dad had left an old Bronco at the end of the tunnel with a smash stash of guns and ammo. She’d felt a prickle of guilt for leaving Alex and the water running, but Alex refused to believe her dad was still alive.
He was alive. She felt it in her heart and bones. He was only a few hundred feet away from her. Payton was darting across the street when she heard a sound behind her. She spun on her heel with her rifle raised, her finger on the trigger.
“I come in peace,” Colin said holding his hands up. His rifle slung on his shoulder.
Payton didn’t lower her weapon. “What are you doing here?” she snapped harshly, though the answer was obvious. Alex discovered she had left and sent Colin to bring her in.
“Watching your back. Want to lower the gun? Same side, remember?”
“Are we?” she challenged, her finger still on the trigger. She didn’t plan on shooting him, but she was angry with him.
“Excuse me?” he asked, affronted, as he dropped his arms.
“Why did you call Alex instead of me to tell me my dad was dead?”
“Because I figured it would be better coming from him than me. You two are closer. And face to face news like that is better than over the phone.” Payton refused to blush at Colin knowing about her sex life.
“That doesn’t explain why the police never notified me first. I had to call my chief, but he said the body was unrecognizable. That it would take DNA to prove it was him. So how can they be sure it’s my father?”
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Payton.” Colin shrugged his shoulders. “I only relayed a report that came from my superiors when they called off the search. I called Alex so you didn’t keep looking for him.”
“He’s alive, Colin and he’s in this building.” She refused to believe the report.
Colin nodded solemnly. He didn’t look any more convinced than Alex had that her father was alive. “Then let’s go find him.”