Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) by Karen Rose

            Tom nodded once, because she was right. She should have. He’d started to put the SUV in gear when his work phone buzzed in his hand. “I don’t recognize the number.” He answered, putting it on speaker. “Special Agent Hunter.”

            “Tom, it’s Liza.”

            He immediately sat up straighter, his heart taking off. “Liza? Why are you calling from this number? Are you all right?”

            “I’m fine. I’m with some friends. I just wanted to pass on a tip. Do you remember the Eden tattoo that Daisy was trying to track down? The one she saw on Instagram?”

            “Yes. We got a name and address for the artist, but when agents went to question him, he ran. He went underground. Why?”

            “The person who got the tattoo is named William Holly, who got it on his eighteenth birthday, eighteen years ago. He originally asked that the children kneeling be labeled as ‘Bo and Bernie.’ For him and his sister.”

            “Holy shit.” Bo and Bernie were Pastor’s twins, whose bodies had been found at the bottom of a ravine—unrecognizable. “How do you know this? Did you find the tattoo artist?”

            “William Holly’s address eighteen years ago was 966 Elvis Lane in Benicia,” Liza replied.

            Tom stared at the Belmonts’ empty rental property—966 Elvis Lane, Benicia. Rafe was right. Pastor’s wife and kids hadn’t died in that ravine. He set the revelation aside for a moment, refocusing on Liza. “You didn’t answer my question. Did you find the tattoo artist? Whose phone is this? Where the hell are you?”

            “I’m texting you the photo ID William Holly used when he got the tattoo,” Liza said very calmly. “I thought this information might be useful to you right away.”

            “Goddammit, Liza,” he snarled. “I need to know where you are and if you’re safe.”

            “I’m safe. I promise. I’ll call you later, but I need to go now.” And the call ended.

            “Fucking hell.” He tried redialing the unfamiliar number, but it just rang. He tried Liza’s cell number and it went to voice mail without ringing once. She was either quick to hit decline, she was talking to someone else, or she’d blocked him. The latter stung.

            “Which friends do you think she’s with?” Croft asked.

            Tom made himself breathe, not allowing his frantic anger to consume his logic. “Daisy’s gotta be one of them. She’s been pushing to find the owners of the Eden tattoos she discovered online.” He dialed Daisy’s cell, but it went to voice mail. “Fucking hell,” he muttered, then dialed Irina’s number.

            “Yes, Tom?” she answered.

            “May I speak with Liza, please? I think she had a lesson with Abigail today.”

            “Oh, that’s long over. Liza’s no longer here.”

            “Is Mercy there?”

            “No. Mercy is with Raphael today. He didn’t want her to leave the safety of their home.”

            She said she’s with friends. Who else did she consider her friend? Immediately the image of Mike the Groper popped into his mind, but he shoved it aside. She wouldn’t involve a stranger in an active investigation. “Did she mention where she’d be going this afternoon?”

            “Why don’t you ask her, Tom?” Irina asked, her tone heavy with maternal disappointment.

            “She’s not answering my calls.”

            “That is not good to hear. I recommend you try harder.”

            The call ended. Tom gaped. “She hung up on me.”

            “She totally did,” Croft said. “Okay then, your personal drama aside, why has Daisy been searching for the owners of Eden tattoos? Why has she been searching for Eden tattoos at all?”

            Tom pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt a headache coming on. “She’s looking for other escapees because she thinks that they might be able to lead them to old Eden locations.”

            “But we know all of the old Eden locations.” Then she nodded, understanding filling her eyes. “But Daisy doesn’t know that because you’re not allowed to tell her.”