CHAPTER 163

As we sped away, my mind raced with possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. The fear that Justin might already be one step ahead gnawed at me, but Leon’s unwavering determination was my anchor.

“Where to next?” I asked, my voice betraying the anxiety bubbling just below the surface.

Leon didn’t hesitate. “We’ll go to my contact. He’s a private investigator, one of the best in the state. If anyone can find Hector’s wife, it’s him.”

The drive to the investigator’s office felt like it took an eternity, though in reality, it was only about twenty minutes. The streets of Anacortes blurred past, the town’s familiar sights taking on a more sinister tone in the dark. Every shadow felt like it was hiding something—or someone.

Finally, we pulled up in front of a small, nondescript building on a quiet side street. The sign on the door read *Bennett Investigations* in faded gold letters. Leon was out of the car before it fully stopped, his urgency contagious. I followed closely, m