Page 102 of Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad World

“Go on,” Noah prompted.

She glanced at him warily. “I can’t think of a drug that would’ve worked that fast. Something must have been slipped into her coffee earlier. And, if that was the case, wouldn’t the ADA have noticed that Annabelle was behaving as though she was sedated?”

It felt like a bucket of ice water had been emptied over Noah’s head.

“Evan,” Rodrigo said over the radio. “You got an address for Hanson’s property in the Heights?”

Sparks flew in Noah’s brain as they waited for a reply. Connections formed where none had existed before.

“The ADA would’ve noticed the equipment all over the office,” he said. “She was the one who ordered the tech to pack up. Why wasn’t she annoyed he left it there?”

“Evan, I need that address,” Rodrigo repeated.

Noah pulled out his phone and dialed the ADA. There was no reply. He dialed the DA’s office, and the receptionist answered.

“I need to speak to ADA Grant,” he said without preamble.

“Evan,” Rodrigo snapped. “Are you there, damn it? We need that info.”

“I’m calling him,” one of the other triplets said. “He’s probably on a bathroom break.”

“I’m sorry,” the receptionist said in Noah’s ear. “ADA Grant called in sick this afternoon.”

“This is Noah Merchant. ADA Grant was just with us at the warehouse. She said she was coming into the office for a meeting with the DA. Could you check again, please?”

“I’m afraid you must have misheard,” the woman said. “DA Carpenter had a series of meetings in San Antonio today. He won’t be back in Houston until tomorrow.”

Noah hung up as the world tilted yet again. “Margaret Grant isn’t at the office, and the DA’s in San Antonio. Has been all day.”

“He isn’t picking up,” one of the triplets said about Evan, sounding worried.

Rochelle cast him a worried look before speaking to the team. “Evan,” she raised her voice. “Evan, come in.”

There was no reply. Noah felt sick. Evan wasn’t answering, the ADA had gone missing after lying to them, and there were serious questions over just how involved the tech guy had been in Annabelle’s disappearance.

“Harris,” Noah barked into their comms. “You can check your brother’s location on your phone, right?”

“Doing it now,” came the reply. “He’s in the office. Why isn’t he picking up?”

Because he couldn’t.Noah had made a terrible mistake. He’d misread the situation, missed all the red flags, and had gone running in the wrong direction.

“Turn the car around,” Noah ordered. “We need to get back to the warehouse now.”

“We’re on the interstate,” Rochelle said. “I can’t turn around.”

“Then speed up and get to the next exit as fast as you can. We need to get back there.”

“What about the van?” Abasi asked.

“I’m calling the DA’s office for the driver’s number. Just get off the interstate.”

Noah rang the receptionist again and explained that he needed the tech’s number. He hung up and immediately called the man.

He answered on the first ring. “Hello?” he said, sounding unstressed.

“This is Noah Merchant from Benson Security.”

Rochelle cut off another driver as she slid across lanes to the nearest exit. Horns blared all around them.