Trixie’s pulse raced. “Why am I just hearing about this?”
“Your dads protected you,” Vicky replied. “Stay on the line with me and I’ll have Patrick get in touch with Brock.”
“Vicky, I think it’s too late,” Trixie said, startled by a noise in the bedroom.
“What do you mean it’s too late?”
“I think he’s here,” Trixie whispered, whipping around to look at the empty room behind her. A gush of fresh air shot down the hallway, leading her to an appropriate conclusion. Someone had entered the apartment from the back door.
“Hello, Trixie.” Cash grinned from ear to ear. “I see you’re already dressed and ready for our first date.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brock, Rory, and Mitch had knocked on Cash’s door and waited for an answer. When he didn’t greet them, they entered the unlocked apartment and hurried up the back steps leading to the den.
“Check the bedroom,” Brock said, marching to the kitchen.
Something was terribly wrong here. He felt the angst in the atmosphere. There was an eerie feel to the room, a real dark cloud hanging over them.
“He’s not here,” Rory said, reappearing seconds later.
Brock opened and shut some cabinets and drawers. He came up with nothing to signify Cash planned to stay. He hadn’t necessarily made himself right at home and his personal effects weren’t cluttering the surrounding area. Then again, after a stint in prison, the guy probably didn’t have a lot of his own belongings.
“Brock, Rory…you need to see this,” Mitch said, exiting the master bedroom.
Mitch moved aside as Brock and Rory walked into the room. Pictures of Trixie were hanging over the bed. A makeshift clothesline stretched from one side of the room to the other with numerous photos attached to clothespins.
“Oh my God,” Rory said, backing out of the room.
Brock’s phone rang. He dug in his pocket for his cell. The name displayed on the caller ID was like a bomb through the heart. “It’s Aspen McKay.” He clicked receive while waving Mitch and Rory through the door. “Go! Go! Go!”
“Brock?”
“Aspen? Vicky was talking to Trixie when we left her. We’re in the apartment here at Cow Camp and it looks like Cash Whitehead is someone the McKays and Cartwells may know. What do you know about him?”
“Brock, he’s got her,” Aspen said.
“Oh God no.” Brock gulped, stilling only for a second.
“Vicky was on the phone with her when it happened.”
Mitch and Rory paused, searched his eyes, and as if they’d heard Aspen themselves, took off at an outright sprint.
Running alongside them, Brock held the phone to his ear. “Get the Abingdon PD on this, Aspen…”
“Already done. Patrick is on the phone with them now. Vicky and Joshua have headed over to Kane’s place.”
“How do you know this much? What did Vicky say?”
“Trixie dropped Cash’s name and Vicky immediately remembered his name and asked for more details. About that time, Cash must’ve snuck up on Trixie. Vicky heard him say something about being dressed and ready for a first date.”
Brock ran faster. He pumped his legs harder than he had ever pumped iron back in the day of rigorous workouts. God help him. He had to make it in time. He needed to save her. After the Pratchert ordeal, he’d promised Trixie. He’d sworn to always protect her.
Once again, he’d let her down when she needed him most.
“How long ago?” Brock was reeling. He couldn’t believe this was happening.
“Maybe five minutes.”
“Rory, stay here!” Brock called out. “If hasn’t taken her off the island yet, he’ll be coming through here.”
“Got it!” Rory yelled, hanging back.
“Mitch…”
“I have to go with you,” Mitch said, catching up. “He may be armed and if he is, I’m the only one who can help you.”
Brock glanced over his shoulder. Maybe he should’ve hung back instead of leaving Rory alone. If Cash possessed a weapon, Brock could be leaving Rory behind to face his death.
“Brock, are you still with me?” Aspen asked.
“Yeah, I’ll keep you on the line until we see what we’re facing,” Brock said.
“Listen, Brock. Don’t underestimate Cash Whitehead. Joshua and I were with the Cartwells when they received the information on him. This guy has balls. He spouted off to the press right after Trixie’s abduction. Kane hired a private investigator to find out what they could on him.
“He’s probably more dangerous to Trixie than Stephen Pratchert ever thought about. He’s a serial rapist.”