“The cops have her. Don’t you understand?”

Alex was practically screaming at Nate.

To his credit, Nate kept his cool. The only thing belying his emotion was the muscle twitching along his jawline.

“You don’t know that for sure,” Nate said.

Alex threw Cam’s wallet at him. It bounced off Nate’s chest and landed on the ground. “Her ID is gone. Why else would it be gone?” He raked a hand over his head. “I’ll tell you why. Because they pulled her over!”

“So what do you want me to do?” Nate asked. “Call it in? Call the police and report a kidnapping…by the police? I don’t know if you know this, but I’m outside my jurisdiction here. And the only people I can call are Bentley PD or BCA.” His eyes lasered into Alex. “You have any ideas how I could convince BCA to come out on such skimpy evidence? Because I can’t.”

Alex hated that he was right. He knew without a doubt who was behind Cam’s disappearance. It was as if Sarge had left a calling card, it was so obvious. No one else would do something so brazen…or so sloppy. But that fit Sarge’s MO. He was arrogant, cocky, always considered himself above the law.

A shiver ran down Alex’s spine. Because just as he was convinced it was Sarge behind it, he was also certain of what the man’s end goal would be.

He was in damage control mode. It was the reason he’d gone after Alex, the reason he’d beat the shit out of him and decided killing him was better than allowing Alex to talk. The man’s very existence was being threatened, and Alex knew he would stop at nothing to protect himself.

“I’m calling Kellan,” Nate said. “We need his opinion here.”

Alex scowled. Fuck that. He wasn’t waiting for a committee meeting. There wasn’t time. They needed to act. Now.

He had no idea how long Cam had been missing, how long she’d been in Sarge’s custody. Hell, they might already be too late.

A sliver of fear stabbed at him.

It couldn’t be too late. He shook his head. It couldn’t be.

Not now. Not after he’d finally allowed himself to find her, to reconnect with her after all these years.

He forced himself into Sarge’s shoes, as distasteful as it might be. He knew he needed to be able to think like him if he had any hope of finding Cam.

Where would he take her?

Alex surveyed their surroundings. They were on the edge of Bentley, fifteen minutes from the center of town. The area was mostly farmland, lakes and wooded parkland. He could have dragged her into any number of places if he was looking for seclusion.

But taking her away from that location, even the smallest of distances, had its risks. He would have had to put her in a car. Unless he knocked her out—Alex’s gut tightened at the thought—she wouldn’t have gone quietly. Even if she had been unconscious, there was no way for him to know just how long she’d stay out.

He’d stick close by. Alex was certain of it.

He looked around again.

And then he laughed.

Nate shot him a confused look. “What the hell is so funny?”

Alex stared at the abandoned building fifty yards in front of him.

No.

It couldn’t be that easy.

But what if it was?

What if the sergeant had decided that closer was better? The factory had been abandoned for years. There was no way in hell anyone would be lurking around that building. He could keep her there indefinitely while he formulated a plan, and no one would be the wiser.

No one except Alex.

Nate was on his phone, texting someone.

Probably Kellan.

Alex made a face.

They could brainstorm as long as they fucking wanted.

But him?

He was taking action.

His gaze shifted, and his eyes found what they were looking for.

Nate’s gun was barely visible, tucked against his side, partially hidden by the sports coat he was wearing.

Alex drew in a breath. “I’m sorry,” he muttered.

Nate didn’t hear him.

Alex walked toward him, flexing and shaking his arm.

Nate looked up.

Alex smashed his fist into Nate’s jaw, then lifted his piece from its holster.

“What the fuck?” Nate growled. The force of the blow had sent him flying backward.

Alex said nothing.

He just gripped the gun and sprinted toward the abandoned building.