The Trigger Read Online Free PDF

he hadn’t experienced since he’d left politics.
    Ten minutes later, he pulled into the community and spotted a dark sedan near his house. McCullen sat behind the wheel, facing him. Randall had no choice but to park and acknowledge his presence. The agent was out of the car and standing in the driveway by the time Randall shut off his engine. The man moved like a running back and was built like one too. McCullen’s height and rugged good looks intimidated Randall, who’d always felt more effeminate than he cared for. His own face was too narrow and too pretty. Women liked it, but men often thought he was gay. Taking testosterone for a year had only made him more short-tempered. And now, knowing that jerk McCullen had dated Emma first enraged him.
    Randall climbed from his car and glanced over to see if Spencer was coming out to back him up. The house had no movement.
    “I have more questions.” McCullen’s face was expressionless. “Let’s go inside.”
    That meant the agent intended it to be a long session. Randall didn’t have time. “We can talk here.”
    McCullen hesitated for a long moment. Randall assumed the agent was considering taking him into the Redding FBI office.
    “Have you heard from your wife?” McCullen asked.
    “No, why? Have
you
?”
    McCullen scowled and squared his shoulders. “We found her car this morning.”
    “Where? Is she okay?” Randall expressed the correct amount of alarm, then realized he had to take it farther. “Is that why I saw the officers on the road near the curve?”
    “Her car went off the embankment and landed in some shrubs at the bottom.”
    Randall brought his hands to his face. “Emma? Is she all right? And the baby?”
    “They weren’t in the car.” McCullen’s eyes narrowed. “But I think you knew that. Where are they?”
    Randall slumped back against his truck, the picture of concern. “Stop accusing me and tell me what you know. This is my family!”
    “Her luggage is still in the car, but her purse is gone. And if she had a diaper bag with her, it’s gone too.”
    “She must have gotten out after the wreck and climbed up to the road.” Randall allowed himself to look hopeful. “Maybe someone gave her and Tate a ride. Maybe she’s in a hospital somewhere.”
    McCullen cocked his head. “You said you called hospitals.”
    “Of course I did. I’m just trying not to think the worst.”
    “What was the last thing she said to you when she left?”
    Randall blinked, thinking fast. “She said, ‘I love you. I’ll miss you.’ Why do you ask?”
    McCullen jotted something in a small notebook, then looked up. “Emma’s mother says your relationship was volatile and that Emma planned to stay with her for a while. She thinks Emma was leaving you.”
    “Typical mother-in-law bullshit.”
The bitch!
“Nadine has heart disease, or so she told us, and asked Emma to come take care of her. I told you that. Emma didn’t want to go, but she thought she had to.” Close enough to the truth.
    “Did you fight about her leaving?”
    “We discussed it.”
    “Your neighbor described it as an argument.”
    The bitch!
Grace had never warmed to Randall, but he expected Destiny members to support each other. “I didn’t want my wife to leave. Can you blame me? But I understood that she had to.” Randall forced himself to think about his father’s funeral, hoping to produce mist in his eyes. “I love my wife and I’m worried sick. Please stop harassing me and go find her.”
    “Who is Timothy Gains?”
    Randall was taken aback. “I have no idea. Why?”
    “Emma called him the afternoon she disappeared.”
    What the…?
“How do you know that?”
    “We have her phone records. She texted Gains the day before too. They planned to meet in San Francisco.”
    Rage, fear, and confusion collided in Randall’s chest. Had Emma been cheating on him?
No!
The agent was trying to provoke him. Randall forced himself to shrug and be casual. “I’m sure he’s an