Her Two Wilde Billionaire Bad Boys (Wilde, Nevada 3)
Page 39
“Just go. Both of you.” Carlotta’s gaze remained on Lance and Chuck. “I’m giving you da day off. Da diner vill be fine.”
“I’m going, too,” Austin said. “I need to talk to the sheriff about this.”
With his heart thudding in his chest, Chuck ran out the door with Lance and Austin.
He had to get to Danielle, had to make sure she was safe.
* * * *
“Pauline was from Wilde.” Danielle’s heartache for losing the woman still stung. “That’s why I came here.”
“How old was she when you ran away?”
“Seventy-seven.” She would’ve been eighty-seven if Miguel hadn’t killed her. “Does any of this help you?”
“The more information I get, the better. I’m sure I’ll find the murder in the database.” Sheriff Champion wrote the information on his notepad. “Do you know her birthday?”
“It was in June, but I don’t remember the date.”
“That’s helpful. It will narrow it down. How old was she when she left Wilde?”
“Sixteen, I believe. I wish I knew her maiden name, but she never told it to me.”
“This is more than I had.” The sheriff’s phone rang. “I’ll run this through the database and see what we find on Soto.” He picked up the receiver. “Sheriff Champion.”
Danielle saw his eyes narrow. He wrote something on his notepad and showed it to her.
There’s been a break-in at your house. Maude was shot. Assailant escaped.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Danielle is with me. We’re headed that way now.” He hung up the phone. “Danielle, do you have your cell?” he asked, standing.
She nodded.
“Call Lance and Chuck and have them meet us at your house.”
Before she even brought the phone out of her purse, Lance and Chuck rushed in, the two men she wanted with her more than anyone else, along with Austin Wilde.
Sheriff Champion came around his desk. “I guess you already heard.”
Lance nodded. “The cartel is sending a man to Danielle’s house.”
“Not sending. Sent.” The sheriff put his gun belt around his waist. “The thug has already been there and shot Maude Strong.”
Chuck pulled her in tight to him. “Let’s go.”
They rushed out the door.
Lance grabbed her hand. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, but I want to get to Maude as fast as I can.”
Chapter Ten
Danielle sat between Lance and Chuck in the back of the patrol car. Austin sat up front with the sheriff, who was driving.
The sheriff turned right onto her street. Her home was ten houses down and on the left.