“Sydney’s phone is back online.”

“Repeat that.”

“We’re getting a signal from Sydney’s phone,” Frost said slowly.

“How?” Charlie’s heart rate picked up. He’d all but written off Sydney’s phone as another dead end. “When?”

“Agent Padello and I have been checking every day, hoping we’ll get a hit. Someone must’ve found her phone and turned it on. Had to, otherwise we wouldn’t have found it.”

“So, someone has her phone. Do we know where?”

“Sydney’s iPhone has a track feature,” Frost said. “I’m dropping you a pin.”

“Dropping me a pin?”

Frost chuckled. “Sorry, soldier. I’m sending you the coordinates. Sheriff Huggins wants you to meet him there.”

Charlie glanced down at Lane. “Now?”

“Yeah.”

There was something in Frost’s voice. He was holding back. Why? “I’ll head out now.”

“Everything okay?” Lane asked when Charlie ended the call.

“Work.”

“Probably need to head back to the house anyway.”

Lane started toward the house, but Charlie pulled her back to him. He pressed his mouth to hers, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off her feet. When he set her down, he noticed her cheeks were flushed.

“Yeah, we definitely need to get back to the house. Where there are people.” She took an unsteady step back. “And people.”

“If I’m not out too late, maybe I can stop by your place on my way home?”

Lane nodded. “Sure.”

Charlie kissed her forehead and then hurried to his truck, anxious to get to work and then get back to Lane. As he followed the directions Frost had sent him, Charlie let the reality of what had just taken place settle in. He’d kissed her. And she’d kissed him back. He put his knuckle to his lips, a faint trace of Lane’s perfume on his skin. This was where he was meant to be. Here with Lane. Proving himself—for as long as it took and as many kisses as it took—to be the man deserving of her trust and love.

TWENTY-THREE

CHARLIE PULLED HIS TRUCK off the side of Coastal Highway and parked behind a Walton squad car. Sheriff Huggins stepped out, the lines on his face tight and his eyes locked on Charlie. Charlie grabbed his service weapon and secured it in his pocket holster before clipping his badge to his belt and climbing out of his truck.

“This isn’t too far from where Sydney’s body was discovered.” Charlie noticed a narrow dirt inlet and saw two more squad cars. Deputy Wilson was poised, alert and ready. “This isn’t just some random location, is it?”

“That path leads to Miguel Roa’s house.” Sheriff Huggins pointed at the path to the left of the two squad cars parked on the highway shoulder.