She closes her eyes and lowers her head for a second. “I feel like I’m missing something. Like there’s a piece of this puzzle I’m not seeing.”
“Did you check the applications folder? Sometimes things get saved there as a default.”
Her head jolts up, and she reaches for the keyboard. “Oh my God. Is this it?”
She clicks on a file, and a video starts to play.
I lean forward. “Is this the correct footage?”
“Yes! I’m wearing the same clothes, and Leo’s in his froggy jumper.”
I watch her unlock the door and bring him into the office. We fast-forward through the video. There are spots where she brings Leo out in between clients, and we catch a glimpse of her shoulder carrying the baby or the back of her head as she heads into the office. Sometimes a stylist will come into view for a second. Finally, Baylee starts paying bills and eventually closing down.
My heart beats like a drum as she unlocks the back door to drag the trash to the dumpster. She blocks the back door open so she can get back in.
I keep waiting for someone to sneak in from the back. To walk right past her. To snatch Leo and carry him into the alley.
Instead, someone walks in from the front.
Someone with blonde hair and a baby blue raincoat. And like the person knows there are cameras, she keeps her hood up and head down.
I rewind it and pause on the figure.
Baylee sucks in a breath. “I know that coat. That’s what Kira was wearing at the rodeo.”
Son of a bitch. I dial the sheriff. When he picks up, I tell him to get back to the salon. “You’re gonna want to see this.”
51
BAYLEE
Every time someone’sphone buzzes, I panic it’s going to be bad news.
Maverick, Paige, and I are camped out in the reception area of the police station.
“Shouldn’t he know something by now?” I twist my hands in my lap.
Maverick leans forward and drops his face into his hands. “I’m gonna lose my shit if Kira did this.”
I’m too distraught to offer any words of comfort. I can’t even bring myself to ask the most obvious question. I’m guessing he’s doing more rehab here and will be returning to New York.
As I sit on a cold, hard bench, I realize pain is relative. I thought my world was ending when Maverick left. But then some asshole stole Leo, and now my heart is barely beating.
A door down the hall opens, and the sheriff exits. We all stand.
He lets out a sigh when he gets to us. “She says her coat was stolen at the rodeo.”
“Bullshit.” I’m seething, raging, ready to explode.
“I’ve put in a call to the rodeo to see if they have security cameras.”
“How long is that going to take? The longer Leo’s missing, the worse our chances are of finding him.” I can barely choke out those words, but I’ve watched all those crime shows. I know the statistics are grimmer the longer you go without finding the missing person. “And what about Nicole? The suspect had blonde hair. Maybe she’s the one who stole the raincoat.”
“She was at a cheer event tonight. One of my officers confirmed that for me.” Damn it. Sheriff Reynolds pats my shoulder sympathetically. “My advice is to go home and get some sleep. In the meanwhile, I’ll get officers to check on Vera and Rory. And I’ll let you know if we get any news about your ex.”
“You’re wasting your time on my employees. They’d never do this. Vera’s been working for us for years, and Rory wouldn’t hurt a mouse.”
The sheriff nods. “Still, it can’t hurt to check. Go home, and we’ll get a jump start first thing in the morning.”
