According to Sawyer, they were checking more video cameras in the area to see if Skinner’s car had been spotted anywhere, but so far it hadn’t. News had spread quickly that Bryce was missing. One of the café’s regular customers who owned a printing shop had put Jeremy Skinner’s picture on flyers that were being passed around town in case anyone recalled seeing him in the area.

So far no one remembered anything. Sawyer had alerted the FBI and an agent had come and gone, talking more to Sawyer than to anyone. Sawyer hadn’t shared what the man had told him. But Kaegan had a feeling it hadn’t been good.

“This is my fault,” Kaegan said, brokenly.

“How?” Chester asked.

“We should never have broken up ten years ago. We could have been married now and then she wouldn’t have had a reason to meet up with a bastard like Skinner. She would have called me that day when she’d gotten a flat tire and she sure as hell wouldn’t have met him for coffee at any time. Hell, some boyfriend I am. I couldn’t even protect her.”

“There was no way for you to have known, Kaegan,” Vashti said, coming up to him to give him a hug. “I knew more about the guy and I didn’t suspect a thing. Neither did Bryce. Don’t give up. None of us can give up. We have to believe Bryce is safe and will return to us.”

More than anything, Sawyer wanted to believe that. He honestly needed some kind of reassurance that the woman he loved was all right, but nobody could give him that.

He looked over at Sawyer. “What do you know about Skinner?” He knew Sawyer knew something. Why wasn’t he saying whatever that FBI agent had told him?

“I can’t tell you anything about him right now, Kaegan.”

“Like hell,” Kaegan said angrily.

Suddenly Ray appeared at Kaegan’s side. “Come on, man. Let’s take a walk outside and get some air. I think you need to cool off a minute.”

He was about to tell Ray he didn’t want to take a walk outside when he figured maybe doing so would be for the best. He was headed out the door when the beeper on his watch went off. Knowing someone had trespassed on his property was the last thing he gave a damn about now. He had more important things to deal with.

“I know it’s going to be hard to do, Kaegan, but you need to pull yourself together, man,” Ray said when they were outside. “Sawyer and his guys are doing all they can do.”

“I know that, but the FBI guy told him something and I want to know what.”

“If he could have told you then he would have, Kaegan. You have to respect the fact that in addition to being our friend, he’s still the law.”

“I’m leaving. We got a possible lead.”

Kaegan and Ray turned when Sawyer quickly walked out of the café. Kaegan’s heart jumped. “Where?”