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“She thought it was safe.” It comes out defensively.
“I know,” Cole soothes. “We’ll find her. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
But he doesn’t sound like he thinks it’s nothing. Cole knows how responsible Thea is. The only reason for her not to show up at school is if something went wrong.
The school is up ahead, and I can see two figures standing in front of the doors; one tall, and one shorter. Mrs. Roberts and Laila, I’m assuming.
I slam the car into park, but don’t get out yet. I need a moment to force a calm I’m far beyond feeling; icy claws of fear tearing at me from the inside out.
“I’m at the school,” I tell Cole. “I need to bring Laila somewhere. My mother’s house… but it’s fifteen minutes from here… fuck—”
“Bring her here. Maya can watch her.”
“Okay.” Mrs. Roberts is walking with Laila now, undoubtedly tired of waiting for me. But there are things I need to say to Cole alone. “What about her condo? The library? Can you—”
“Done. I’ve got Leo and Rylan here. They’ll check both places. By the time you get here, hopefully we’ll have some information.”
Laila is running to the car now, so I leave the call open and get out, opening my arms just in time for her to slam into them.
“Daddy, where’s Thea?” Her eyes are pink, and she never calls me daddy unless she’s really upset. “She’s supposed to be here. Did she forget about me?”
“No, sweetie.” It’s all I can do to keep my expression from crumpling along with hers. “I think something happened, and I need to find out. But she wouldn’t forget you. I promise.”
Her eyes go big and worried. “Is… is Thea okay?”
“Yes.” Oh please, let that be true.
I barely say a word to Mrs. Roberts aside from a hurried thanks. She looks like she wants to scold me, but as soon as she meets my gaze, her face softens. “I hope everything is alright, Mr. Lewis.”
I hope so, too.
Laila’s unusually quiet as I make the interminable drive to the Blade and Arrow building. My words of comfort aren’t very convincing, either. I tell her it’s all going to be fine, that she’s just going to hang out with Maya for a bit, but she just keeps watching me with this worried expression.
Once we get to Blade and Arrow, I give Laila a big hug before passing her off to Maya. “Be good,” I tell her. “I’ll be back soon to check on you. Okay?”
“Okay, Dad.” Her voice wobbles. “Will you find Thea?”
God. The alternative is unthinkable. “Yeah, sweetie. I’ll find her.”
But once I’m in the conference room, surrounded by Cole and Leo—their faces both grim—I’m not so certain.
“Her condo was empty,” Leo reports. “No sign that she was there today. I checked her Ring camera and the only person who came near was the mailman.”
“Rylan is still checking the library,” Cole says.
“I checked the local hospital records,” Leo adds, glancing back to his laptop. “No one admitted with Thea’s description. And no accidents, either.”
“Maybe she’s at the library,” I offer, barely believing it even as the words come out of my mouth. “Could she have gotten trapped in one of the areas still under construction?”
Cole leans heavily against the long wooden table. “Maybe.”
Then Cole’s phone rings—a unique pattern of tones—and he grabs it up. “Ry?”
He’s silent, listening, but the way his jaw tightens and his posture stiffens tells me the news isn’t good. After a series of okays and a low shit, he ends the call.
“Rylan found her purse. And her phone.” Cole pauses. “They were shoved under her car.”
My legs go weak, and I sink into the nearest chair. “Shit.”
