Tease Me (Private Listing #4)

We both turn to the bed. It’s obviously held together with something. But we don’t have any tools to take it apart. There are a couple of tiny windows. Neither of us could fit through them. With no neighbors, breaking them and yelling would only piss off the stalker.

We sink down on the bed with our hands interlaced. I’m exhausted. The level of fear racing through me is just too much.

“I’m sorry you’re here because of me.” This all feels really fucking disheartening right now.

Hope squeezes my hand. “At least we’re not alone.”

The hours she must have spent down here. Alone. Not knowing what would happen next. I squeeze her hand back. She rests her head against my shoulder. Exhaling, I glance up at the door. Someone should find us.

The front door beeps as it opens and slams shut.

“Anna?” A worried masculine voice fills the upstairs. “Anna, where are you?”

My mind registers Patrick’s voice. Hope smiles. “We’re saved.”

I want to believe we are, but how many times did we think Patrick might be the stalker? He isn’t creepy toward me, and he saved me from Jimi, but was that because he knew Jimi would be attacking me? He also got those texts from the stalker.

Indecision paralyzes me. Am I walking into another trap? Or is this our ticket to freedom?

Chapter 163

Business Bombshell

Seth

We’re all gathered in the police station with Bill Carr and his team. Blake stands against the wall with his arms crossed, intently following Bill with his gaze. Coop sits next to Theo toward the back corner of the room.

Theo types furiously to help figure out where the text to Jason came from. We’ve tried calling the phone and messaging it, but it’s either out of range or our numbers are blocked.

Jason Williams stands next to Blake, a permanent scowl etched on his face. We listened to the voice message the stalker left about Hope. Madison went to protect her. To give her a chance. As frustrated as I am about Madison putting herself in harm’s way, I’m proud of her devotion to her friend.

Noah sits next to Coop with his hair a mess. He’s paying attention to both Bill and Theo. His fingers work on a small section of rope, tying knots and fraying the end. Just like my raw nerves.

We’re all tense and just waiting to find out where she is. Bill gathered us all with his team to make sure we’re caught up and so we can add anything we can think of.

“We’ve pulled a listing of all of Anna Beck’s family’s properties.” Bill pulls up the list and shows where they are on the projected map. Right now, we assume Anna Beck is also a hostage, held against her will, according to Hope’s message.

But no one is sure. They called Patrick Beck, but it went straight to voicemail. He left the station hours ago after making sure they had the evidence on the spy. He should be here too. His wife could be in danger.

Or he could be the danger. It keeps running through my mind. The access to us and to Madison he’s had. This past week especially. And what the fuck was up with him sending Andrew Faust our way? Yes, he was the perfect bait for Courtney and Andrea, but Patrick had to know Madison and Andrew’s history.

“The couple of texts that went through to the cell phone Madison has were most likely en route to the vacation home.” Bill takes off the homes that aren’t in the direction the phone was moving. “We aren’t able to ping it for a location, so either it’s off or out of range.”

That leaves three properties where Madison could be.

“Thanks to Mr. Addler, we have the plates of the town car that drove Madison to the cabin. We’re working now to get an emergency court order to find out where it dropped her off and who hired the car, so it will be admissible in court.”

When Theo leans close to Coop, I walk over to them in the back corner of the staff room.

“It was sent via wifi. I’ve got the IP address,” Theo quietly explains. “I can find out where it originated, but not legally.”

I glance over my shoulder at Bill who’s assigning tasks to groups. We could pull him over and ask, but this is Madison and Hope. I’d rather get them alive and not be able to prosecute their abductor than sit through a murder trial.

Fear pulses through me. It’s been hours since I’ve seen her. We might already be too late, but if we keep doing things through the “proper channels,” we might lose her entirely.

Theo, Coop, and Noah look up at me, waiting for my decision.

“Do it.”