“This is where you wanted to go, right?”

Alex glanced at the guy sitting next to him.

The Uber driver gave him a cautious smile. “The police station, right?”

Alex nodded. “Right. Yeah.” He fished out his wallet and pulled out a twenty.

Guilt flooded him as he handed it to the driver. He’d stolen a stack of bills from Isabel’s purse when he walked her back to her apartment. He had every intention of paying her back eventually. He just knew he needed cash, because the last thing he wanted to do was leave an electronic trail. Necco had given him some, but there wasn’t much left over after his ride to Aspen Falls.

Even if that trail led straight to the Aspen Fall’s police department.

The driver, an older man with a balding head and wire-rimmed glasses, thanked him. “You want me to wait for you?” the guy asked.

“No, I’m good,” Alex told him. “Thanks for the ride.”

He stepped out of the car and onto the sidewalk, and waited for the car to drive away.

Once it pulled away from the curb, Alex turned his attention to the police station.

It was an unassuming building, single-story, with a granite exterior and tinted windows that made it impossible to see inside. Landscape rock served as ground cover for the perennial flowerbeds at the front of the building. He wasn’t sure of the specifics, but he knew the beds were filled with hostas and what looked like mums. He’d thinned plenty of those plants during his time staying at Doug’s house.

Alex shielded his eyes and stared at the entrance to the building.

He had no idea what might be waiting for him inside…and he really didn’t want to find out.

But Cam had left him with no other choice.

She’d been gone for hours now. She wasn’t picking up her phone, and he’d shifted from anger to flat-out fear that something had happened to her. He was usually cool-headed, could oftentimes talk himself into believing the most rational of explanations. His calmer self told him that Cam wasn’t in danger, that she’d just gotten tired of waiting around and had decided to take matters into her own hands.

But anxiety had been quick to flare up, catching him by surprise.

He knew why, though.

Because this was Cam.

Someone he cared about.

The not knowing was killing him. He’d tried calling her from Isabel’s apartment phone—after he’d stolen the money and while the elderly woman was in the bathroom—but Cam hadn’t answered that call, either. A fresh wave of hysteria had washed over him, but then he reminded himself that Cam wasn’t stupid. She’d probably realize pretty quickly that Alex could be behind the call. Besides, she knew her grandma would leave a message if she really needed to get ahold of her.

Alex sighed. What lay behind those doors was beyond him. He had no idea what would happen once he identified himself.

But he also knew that he didn’t really have a choice.

Not if he wanted to find Cam and make sure she was okay.

He strode toward the door, taking small comfort in the fact that his ribs felt significantly better.

Thank God for small favors.

A woman seated in the receptionist area smiled at him. “Good morning,” she said. Her eyes were friendly behind thick glasses. “Can I help you?”

He cleared his throat. “I’m here to see Nate.”

Her brow furrowed. “Detective Hartford? Are you…are you a friend of his?”

At least he had a last name now. “Sort of,” Alex replied. “I’m a friend of Camila’s. Detective Perez.”

Her expression cleared. “Cam?”

He nodded.

“Poor girl,” she said, clucking her tongue. “She’s been sick the last couple of days.”

“I heard,” Alex said. He placed his hands on the counter. “I don’t mean to be rude, but if Detective Hartford is available, I need to speak with him.”

“Oh, of course,” the woman said, nodding. “He just got back from an appointment. Let me see if he’s available.” She picked up the phone on her desk. “Who should I tell him is here?”

Alex hesitated. “Just tell him Cam’s friend. He’ll know who I am.”

The woman frowned but did as he said.

Alex shoved his hands in the pockets of his sweats—he wished he had something else to wear—and glanced behind him, looking to see if anyone was outside.

Footsteps sounded on the tile floor and Alex turned back around.

A tall, imposing man approached the receptionist area.

“Detective Hartford?” Alex asked.

Nate offered a cool nod.

Alex extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Nate took it, giving it a quick, hard shake. “Come with me,” he clipped.

Nate buzzed them through the door leading to the main part of the station, and Alex followed him down a small hallway, past a room filled with small cubicles. There were a few officers parked at their desks, but otherwise the space was empty.

Nate pushed open a door to a small office and motioned for Alex to step inside. There were two desks crammed into the space and Nate pointed to one of them.

“Have a seat.”

Alex lowered himself on to a black vinyl chair.

Nate dropped his tall frame into the chair behind the desk. “You’re the cop. Alex Castillo.”

He wasn’t beating around the bush. Alex would at least give him that. He nodded in response.

“Word out is you’re wanted for murder,” Nate said. His eyes raked over him. “Double homicide.”

Alex stiffened. “Is it?”

Nate nodded.

“Well, you heard wrong.”

Nate was quiet for a minute and Alex’s insides coiled. Had he made a monumental mistake in coming to the station? There was nothing preventing Nate from picking up the phone and calling Bentley PD. Hell, he could detain him, throw him in jail, or drive him right to the station, and there was nothing Alex could do to stop him. He was powerless.

He quickly assessed the room, looking for possible weapons and a way out. Besides the door, there was a window. It was made of thick, tempered glass, but hurling something heavy at it might crack it. Nate’s desk had a letter opener and a pair of scissors in view. Either of those could be used as makeshift weapons if necessary.

Sweat popped on Alex’s brow. He couldn’t believe he was considering using a letter opener as a shank to attack a police officer.

Nate cleared his throat. “Yeah, so I’ve heard.”

Alex blinked. “What?”

“Cam told me your story,” Nate said.

“She did?”

Nate nodded. “Not all the details, but enough to know that there might be more to the story than the rumors circulating.”

Alex drew in a deep breath, then nodded. Maybe he wasn’t going to have to assault this officer after all.

Nate picked up a pen. “Why are you here?”

He was direct. To the point.

In most other situations, Alex appreciated that.

Now? He wasn’t sure.

“Cam isn’t sick.”

“I know.”

“Something happened at her house yesterday—”

Nate leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “What? How do you know?”

“Because I was there.”

Nate’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve been staying at her house?”

Alex nodded.

Nate said nothing. His look said it all.

“A couple guys found me,” Alex said. “Broke in.”

Nate now looked like he was ready to spit fire. “What the fuck? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” Alex said quickly. “They left before she got there.”

“Why?”

“Some woman showed up with a gun. A friend of Cam’s. Jess, I think?”

Nate’s eyes bulged. “Jess is involved? How the hell am I just hearing about all of this now? Why didn’t she tell me any of this?”

Alex glared at the detective sitting across from him. “Are you going to keep interrupting me, or can I finish talking?”

A muscle in Nate’s jaw pulsed but he offered a curt nod.

“Everything was fine yesterday,” Alex said. “We found a safe place to stay. But…but she left. This morning. She didn’t tell me where she was going.”

Nate just stared at him, his expression blank once again.

Alex met his gaze head on. “She’s not picking up her calls. I have no idea where she is.” He swallowed. “I’m…I’m worried about her.”

Nate’s features softened a fraction. “Hmm.” He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t think you have to worry,” he said gruffly.

Alex frowned. “Why is that?”

“Because I talked to her this morning,” Nate said. “And I know exactly where she’s going.”