Source One

speak with her…….You’re covering her desk? Is she in the office?”
    “No. She’s traveling this week.”
    “Traveling for work?”
    “No.” Nicole’s voice had grown quiet. “She emailed the HR manager to say she had to leave town. For personal reasons.”
    “Did she say where she was going?”
    “From what I understand, no.” There was another pause. “There’s something else. She was supposed to meet my boyfriend today. He works for Cal Coast Bank……..She wanted to find a way to prove she had nothing to do with what happened to your account. But she never showed.
    “I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this except that I can’t get through to her and I’m really worried.”
    Brian’s stomach tightened with unease.
    As soon as he’d hung up with Amber’s co-worker, he dialed Matt. “I need your help.”
    An hour later, Matt was hovered over the lock to Amber’s apartment door. Brian stood nearby, watching the staircase.
    The lock clicked and they quickly walked in.
    He’d seen Amber’s car in the parking lot. But the apartment was still. Empty.
    Brian walked into Amber’s bedroom. He opened the door to her closet. Amber’s suitcase was neatly tucked under a shelf.
    If she were traveling, why was it still here? The knots in Brian’s stomach tightened.
    Brian and Matt sat in Matt’s car, across the street from Source One later that afternoon.
    “What time does she usually leave?”
    Brian cleared his throat.  “It varies.”
    Michelle walked out of the building several minutes later.
    “There.” Brian said.
    Matt started the car.
    Several minutes later, Michelle entered the freeway. Matt stayed several lanes behind her as they drove North.
    An hour later, Michelle exited the highway and began to drive on roads lined with redwood trees. The roads became more secluded as Matt followed at a distance.
    Matt turned off his lights, and they followed Michelle’s car in the twilight. Twenty minutes after they left the highway, Michelle pulled into a long driveway. The sign on the road was marked 1763 - the address of her cabin.
    Matt passed the property and parked on the side of the road. The men quickly moved out of the car and into the woods. Brian could make out Michelle’s Jeep parked next to a sports car in the encroaching darkness.
    “ Here.” Matt pressed a small flashlight into Brian’s hand.
    As they reached the cabin, Brian could see Michelle and Peter standing in the living room.
    The basement window Brian was crouched in front of was dark. He shined the flashlight through it.
    Brian’s heart seized as he saw Amber’s tied down form.
    His hands clenched as fury scorched his insides.
    He rose and started toward the cabin door.
    Matt grabbed Brian’s arm and motioned to the car.
    Matt took several steps and turned around. Motioned again. Wildly this time.
    Brian took a breath and dragged a hand through his hair. Then he started after Matt.

CHAPTER 26
    Amber opened her eyes. Her lungs seized when she saw that the light had come on.
    Amber’s eyes widened. It was Michelle coming down the stairs. Alone.
    Michelle reached Amber and pulled the gag out of her mouth.
    “Amber, we turned on your phone when we were in Marin. Why is Brian calling you? Did you contact him after you were in Peter’s files?”
    Amber drew in a sharp breath. Her heart pounded.
    Brian was calling her?
    She couldn’t think of what it meant now. If they thought Brian knew anything, they’d go after him too.
    Amber wet her parched lips and shook her head. “I haven’t spoken to him since the night he broke up with me,” she whispered. “I don’t know why he’s calling.”
    Michelle paced the room.
    Amber turned her head to the stairs.  Sumner still hadn’t come down. Amber’s instincts screamed at her to take the opportunity.  
    “I need the bathroom,” Amber whispered.
    Michelle blinked.  After a moment’s hesitation, she uncuffed Amber and motioned to the bathroom with her gun.
    Amber drew in a deep breath once she reached the bathroom.  Her heart slammed her ribcage as she grabbed the aerosol can, put her hand over the trigger and rushed out.
    Michelle’s gun clattered as spray shot into her eyes. She sputtered.
    Amber ran to the wooden chair by the bed, grabbed it and swung it at the window. The glass shattered. 
    “Peter! Peter!” Michelle screamed.
    Amber struggled to grab hold of the window frame. She could hear Sumner pounding down the stairs.
    Panic surged, and