Page 99 of Found in Wild Sage

“Thanks, Clementine.”

I hang up and stare at my phone. I send a text to the family group chat. Everyone instantly replies they haven’t seen them. Sam confirms she hasn’t even talked to Evie today, but that their texts earlier were chatty and good.

The doorbell rings, and hope rocks me as I pull open the door, but it sinks back into the depths when I see Diego standing there in uniform, his sheriff deputy vehicle in the driveway.

“Hey, man. We’ll figure this out,” Diego says as he accepts my handshake.

“Thanks for coming.”

“Walk me through it,” he says, gaze steady on me, but then he looks over his shoulder where Grant is pulling in.

“You got here quick. I just asked him to tell me what happened so far,” he reports to his boss.

I’m relieved having my brother here, and he’s in full big brother and sheriff combo mode. He nods to Diego and comes to pat my shoulder in that way of his. It says, “we’ll get this figured out,” and “everything’s going to be fine.” It’s been a long time since I felt like I needed him, but I do now.

I recount every detail from the moment I walked in thirty minutes ago until I answered the door for Diego. I recount every detail of the day, where I knew Charlie to be during the day, what the plan had been when I left the clinic.

“Can you think of anyone who might want to harm them? I know it’s terrible to think about, but we have to.” Grant’s face is a mask of control and focus.

“I don’t think so, other than her ex. But he’s—wait, could this be him? He’s literally gone to jail for kidnapping her once already.” That sick feeling is back and doubling, but it does remind me of something else. “I should call Jack. Maybe she’s with him.”

“Give McKean a call, and in the meantime, Diego, you head to the station and let’s give Trevor Trundle and his parole officer a call. I want a visit tonight so we rule him in or out.”

With a shaking hand, I get Evie’s phone and open it. I’m relieved she shared her password with me a few days ago when she wanted me to look something up while she changed Charlie. After a few seconds, I find Jack’s name in her contacts and dial.

“Hey! How’s the bonafide family life treating you?”

“Jack, this is Declan. I’m sorry, but Evie’s missing, and I need to know if you’ve heard from her—if you know anything that might help.”

There’s a beat, then his voice comes out almost vicious and low. “That son of a bitch Trevor is my first guess. And no, I haven’t seen her since we all had lunch. I’m hopping in the car and I’ll be there soon. Do you mind if I loop some friends in?”

He’s got to mean people from Saint Security. “Let me have you talk to Grant.”

I hand the phone off because I don’t know. My gut says yes, have those former special ops work their magic and solve this problem now. But I don’t know anything about finding a missing person or proper procedure.

Grant is nodding, speaking, but my brain is all static. I’m crashing.

On autopilot, I move to the sink and fill a glass, then chug it. Next, I take a banana from the fruit bowl and eat half of it in one gulp. I have no time to freak out and lose the ability to pay attention.

Grant hangs up, then taps on Evie’s phone. I lean over and watch him check her texts, her call log. Nothing unusual, and all people tagged as contacts. Nothing from her ex, though as far as I know, she hasn’t spoken on the phone to him since well before she left him over a year ago.

I pace the kitchen while Grant calls Diego, then answer the door with more desperate hope this will all be over with Evie on the threshold. Instead, it’s Finn, May, Eirinn, Davis, and Sam. Gus jogs up behind the group only a second later.

“Your parents have the girls. We’re here to help. What can we do?”

I haven’t cried yet. I’m still in disbelief, or numb. It’s not shock, not yet, at least not the medically indicated kind. But seeing all of them rally here, all of them sharing my concern, punctures the odd bubble I’ve been in and I can’t speak.

Thankfully, Grant does for me.

“We’re working on it. We have a strong lead and Diego’s chasing that down. For now, let’s set up a search.” He gives everyone directions—they’ll go in pairs. He gives them specific blocks and areas to look, instructions on what to look for, questions to ask anyone they come across beyond whether they’ve seen Evie or Charlie.

Charlie. I’m worried for Evie, but she’s an adult. What must Charlie be thinking?

A wave of nausea hits. There’s a pinch at the back of my jaw, my mouth waters, and I clench my teeth, breathing through my nose.

Grant’s phone rings and I freeze, even down to my lungs, when he answers.

“Okay. Good. I’m on my way.” He hangs up and settles one of his hands on my shoulders, eyes cutting into mine. “Trevor is accounted for—Diego spoke to him, then his parole officer to confirm. A few minutes later, Trevor called the station and admitted that he hadn’t seen his mom in a few weeks.”