Statler was livid. His buyer had demanded they meet at the clinic to discuss the purchase. While Connolly had reported the women were improving daily, Statler needed those four days he’d been promised in order for them to be in tip top condition. Fucking Charles. What was he trying to pull?
Statler had arrived a few minutes early wanting to determine if the buyer was up to something nefarious. Statler parked at the edge of the lot in in full view of the main entrance and waited. To his delight, Charles drove in with only his assistant in tow.
Feeling rather confident, Statler was about to slip out of his car when he spotted his other nemeses—Tyson and Ford Summerville, the two werewolves who’d destroyed his clinic and forced him to find another location—enter the clinic.
Fucking General Armand. How the hell had he found him? Again?
Statler couldn’t stay around there any longer. This had to be a trap—one that wasn’t going to work. He was smarter than them all. As he jammed his car into reverse, Sarah rushed out of Elkhart’s clinic looking wide-eyed and nervous. Why was she leaving before her shift was up? Something must have happened inside. Perhaps the Summerville brothers had scared her.
As she moved closer to her car, a plan quickly formed.
Because he had no idea what to expect from today’s meeting, he’d prepared a little knock out solution in case he needed to get by Elkhart’s receptionist. A small smile lifted his lips at his forward thinking.
For a split second, he’d been tempted to enter the clinic and battle it out with Ford and Tyson, but given all three of them were enhanced, he doubted he’d end up the victor. For now, it would be best to retreat—with Sarah in tow.
* * *
“Where is she?” Riley paced the too tiny motel room. “Sarah should have been home an hour ago. I’m going after her.”
Jay held up his hand. “Let me call Connolly. He should be at the clinic somewhere.” Before he had the chance to dial the number, his cell rang. “It’s Ford,” he announced. “What’s up?” Jay stood and walked over to the window where he pulled back the curtains. “They’re dead? What did you do with the bodies? Where’s Sarah?” Jay turned around and it looked as if someone had punched him in the stomach. “We’ll be right there.” He disconnected. “Someone kidnapped Sarah.”
Riley saw red. “What happened?”
“Ford and Tyson spotted the two buyers entering the clinic. They went in and when the two men mistreated the women, a fight broke out. The buyers died.”
“And Dr. Elkhart?”
“He escaped. Ford didn’t go into many details, except to say that when they went outside, they found Sarah’s purse and keys on the ground near her car.”
“Was it Statler?” Riley’s voice cracked and his body started to shift. He clenched his hands and pictured Sarah to help him stay in human form.
“They don’t know but I plan to find out.”
Riley stepped over to him and grabbed his arm. “It could be dangerous if you go.”
“Fuck it. If Sarah is missing, I don’t care what happens to me. Besides, if Statler knows the General is here, he’ll not be surprised to see me.”
Jay wasn’t usually hot-headed. “Call him back and tell him we’ll meet them at the gas station on the east side of the clinic. Until we understand what went down, we don’t need Statler’s other goons interfering.”
Jay dragged a hand down his jaw. “You’re right.” He called Ford and made different arrangements. Once he disconnected, they headed out.
Unable to completely focus on driving, Riley tossed Jay the keys. “Did Ford say if they questioned anyone?”
“He didn’t say other than he found her purse and keys.” Jay started the truck and peeled out of there.
At the thought of losing Sarah, hair sprouted on Riley’s body and his teeth elongated, forcing him to inhale once more to control his shift. If he had to battle it out with her kidnapper, he needed to be ready, which meant he had to keep his cool.
For the next half hour, they discussed the most likely culprit and narrowed it down to Russ, Statler, or one of Statler’s goons, each of which had a motive. Once they spoke with Ford and Tyson, they’d come up with a plan.
When they arrived at the designated spot, it was still light, but it wouldn’t be for long. Two cars sat off to the side, one of which belonged to Connolly. Jay parked next to them and Riley rushed out.
They joined Connolly in the back of Tyson’s SUV where Ford gave them the details. “Ty and I were patrolling the area when two men rolled up in a Cadillac dressed to the nines.”