Scream for Me Read Free Page B

Pinpricks . And that nervous gaze of his kept flickering over Cadence’s shoulder. To the house?
    She darted a glance back. He’d been leading them away from the house. What was inside?
    Lily?
    “Where is Lily Adams?” Kyle demanded as he hauled Curtis to his feet.
    Curtis immediately stumbled, and Cadence didn’t think the stumble was from the crash with the tree or with Kyle. She peered at Curtis, noticing the red sores on his face, particularly around his mouth and across his forehead. His cheeks had a hollowed look, and dark circles lined his bloodshot eyes.
    “Curtis Adams,” she said quietly. “You just tried to run down two federal officers with your vehicle. Do you have any idea how much trouble that’s going to make for you?”
    As soon as her words sank in, Curtis immediately attempted to lunge away.
    Kyle grabbed him and hauled him back. Kyle’s suit had torn, and dirt covered most of the expensive cloth.
    His handsome face sure looked pissed.
    “What drugs are you on?” Cadence demanded as she sized up Adams.
    “Nothin’!” he spat. “Get away from me, you—”
    Kyle’s hold on the perp tightened. “You want to be real careful what you say to her next.”
    Like she hadn’t been called plenty worse than what Curtis was about to say. But Kyle never liked it when anyone said a cross word to her. Protective, straight to his core. That protective streak could be damn sexy.
    But then, so could he. Rumpled, sweating, fury straining his features, he looked like the lethal threat he was. Definitely dangerous enough to intimidate Curtis.
    “Anniston.” She directed with an inclination of her head. “How about you pull out your cuffs?” Curtis was running high, and he could attack again at any moment.
    Meth. She’d bet on it. All of the telltale signs were there, and tremors were shaking the guy’s body harder now.
    If she went back into the house— when she went in—Cadence was sure she’d find drug paraphernalia.
    Anniston began to rattle off a list of Curtis’s rights. As the captain talked, Curtis just looked confused. When you assault federal officers with your car, you’re gonna get arrested .
    “Where’s Lily?” Cadence asked once Anniston was done.
    The handcuffs clicked as they locked.
    “I don’t know!” Curtis shouted.
    “She called you last night,” Cadence continued, undeterred. “Did you go and pick her up? Did the two of you fight?”
    If he’d been riding high on meth last night, there was no telling what he might have done.
    “I already told the cop.” He jerked his head toward Anniston. “I ain’t seen Lily! We ain’t talked since the divorce!”
    The woman had left such a fine catch? Hard to imagine. “She called you. We saw the proof on her phone.”
    “I didn’t talk to her!”
    Maybe. Or maybe it was just another lie. “Is she in your house? Did you hurt her?” Cadence stared right into his wild eyes as she waited for his response.
    For an instant, she saw sanity flash. “Hurt Lily? No…never!” He shook his head and his shoulders seemed to slump. “Go look…go look inside…she’s not there.”
    They’d definitely be looking. “Take him in,” she directed Anniston.
    The captain hauled the guy away.
    Cadence turned back to the house.
    Kyle was already heading for the rear door, a door that Adams had conveniently left wide open.
    “You think she could be in there?” Kyle asked quietly.
    Cadence heard no sound from inside. “No. He wouldn’t have told us to go in if he was keeping her here.” Curtis wouldn’t be that stupid, would he?
    Cautiously, she entered through the back door. Kyle had his gun out. Cadence took five steps into the kitchen and saw exactly what she’d been looking for.
    Tinfoil, bent to look like a bowl. The telltale glittering residue shining on the foil.
    Over on the counter, a spoon, its curving base darkened brown.
    Meth .
    They slipped from the kitchen. Their footsteps creaked against the broken linoleum tile.
    The