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Birdie sighs into the phone. “I know how to handle evidence.”
“You know how to handle furniture.”
“I’ve also spent six days with you,” she replies dryly. “I’ve learned a few things.”
My throat aches. “Call me if you find a note. Even if it looks like a shopping list.”
“You’ll hear from me. And Cass?”
“Yeah?”
“Let yourself hope Connor used the card. Just don’t drive as though hoping makes it certain.”
She ends the call before I can tell her she sounds like me on my best day. Andrei has been watching the road while I spoke, giving me the small privacy of looking elsewhere. When I lower the phone, he turns back.
“Birdie is going to check the donated books,” I tell him. “She’ll wait for the second guard.”
He takes out his phone. “Good. Drew can have Harris photograph the cartons before they open them.”
I follow him toward the administration building. Benitez joins us from the path behind the winery as workers continue carrying fruit through the open doors. Their day keeps moving even though Connor is still missing. By the time we reach the courtyard, I can’t decide whether the card charge gives me a reason to hope or another reason to be afraid.
Drew waits near the entrance with a tablet in his hand. Andrei asks for the station address, the transaction details, and every camera covering the road to it. Drew has already sent someone to contact the manager. The payment went through at an outside pump, but he’s still waiting to learn whether they used the physical card.
“Rick says the police are being notified,” I add.
Drew glances at Andrei, then back at me. “We’ll confirm that with the officer handling Connor’s report.”
“Can they get there before us?”
Drew checks the tablet. “They may. I’ll call as soon as we have a name.”
Through the lobby windows, I can see the road leading away from the estate. Somewhere beyond it is a receipt bearing Connor’s card number, and perhaps a camera image that will tell me whether my brother was the person holding it. I grip my bag strap and turn toward the doors.
Andrei remains beside Drew as I reach the lobby doors. I stop with my hand on the handle when he speaks behind me.
“Prepare two vehicles,” he tells Drew. “I think the gas station lead is a trap.”
12
ANDREI
“What trap?” Cassie asks.
One hand grips her bag strap against her chest, and the other holds her phone as if Connor might call before I finish answering. Hope has brought color back to her face, but the tension in her shoulders shows she’s still afraid.
“Whoever used Connor’s card knows the transaction will be reported,” I tell her. “They may want to decide where you go and how many security officers leave the estate with you.”
Her attention moves from me to Drew. “You think they used it so I’d run to the gas station?”
“I think we need to prepare for that possibility.” I glance at Drew, who is already entering instructions into his phone. “You and Benitez take the second vehicle. Keep enough distance to see anyone who joins us after we leave the property.”
Drew nods once. “I’ll have the footage sent to my investigator before we arrive. The local department has an officer heading there now.”
Cassie looks toward the guesthouse. “I need to get Murphy.”
“Murphy can remain with Sofia,” I assure her. “We don’t know how long we’ll be gone, and he’ll be safer here.”
Her mouth opens, but Sofia enters from the corridor before she can object. She must have heard enough to understand the urgency because she addresses Cassie first.
