Page 126 of Painted Truths

I've never been as pleased to see this wanker's depressed face.

"The fuck, Henry. Watch it."

Gripping his elbow, I steer him out and onto the street.

"You fancy telling me why you're acting even stiffer than usual?"

Scrubbing my hand down my face, I can feel my brow knitting together in a fusion of concern and frustration.

"Peaches went out to grab breakfast this morning and hasn't returned. I don't know why, but I can't help feeling that something's off. It’s strange, but I just can’t shake it, brother."

Instantly, Nate's entire demeanour changes and his take-charge persona comes to the forefront. There's no better man to be around in a crisis. I take solace in that fact, knowing he's got my back.

"Right, first things first. What's the closest shop?"

We make our way to McKellan's, a small tobacconist and sweet shop a couple of doors down. The woman behind the counter tells us that they opened at 6 am, and upon showing her a snap of Liv at Caden's wedding in the Bahamas, she confirms she hasn't seen her this morning.

"I know something has happened to her, Nate. I can feel it."

He narrows his eyes in thought. "Your building must have CCTV, no?"

The words haven't even cleared his lips before I spin on my heel and race back the way we'd come.

Garry is just getting off a call when I slam into his desk, my nuisance hair flopping forward, blinding me momentarily. I impatiently push it from my face. "I need to see your CCTV footage. Now." Raking my hands through my hair, I realise I must look crazed, so I try to rein it back, softening my tone slightly before speaking again.

"Please, Garry. I need to see the street outside the building in the early hours before your shift had begun."

Sensing that I'm hanging by a thread, Garry shuffles off to do my bidding, and at that moment, Nate arrives with my brother not far behind.

What the fuck?

Marching straight up to me, face like thunder, Alex pulls no punches as he drops three disposable coffees and a bag from Mucho Muffins, Liv's favourite breakfast spot, on the reception desk. "What's going on, Ri? I was dropping off breakfast, but Nate says Liv's gone? Gone fucking where, may I ask?"

My brother's closeness with Olivia would have bothered me before, but knowing now how much they care for each other in a strictly platonic way, it only soothes me to know someone on this earth cares for her as much as I do.

Clapping my hand on his shoulder and squeezing gently, I can feel some of the tension leave his body. And my own.

Muscle memory.

Our bodies remember the ability to ease each other as we did in childhood.

"Mr DeMarco?" Garry gesticulates that we should follow him before turning back into a small rear office full of monitors from floor to ceiling.

We take up the small space behind him as he sits at a desk, the monitor in front of him clearly displaying the street outside.

"It was easy to find her. The only person who entered or left since you both flew through the lobby last night."

His side-eye would discomfit me if I could give a shit about anything other than Peaches right now.

"Here she is. Walked out of the building shortly before 6 am and turned left. Here's the footage of the next couple of minutes. You might need to take a seat. Or call the authorities. Or maybe both. It isn't pretty, sir."

His words turn my stomach, but my eyes remain rooted on the small screen in front of us. So, we watch as a quite dishevelled Liv walks down the street, almost disappearing from view before she stops and throws her hands in the air, openly exasperated.

Such a Liv thing to do. Alex and I share a small smile as the thought surely hits both of us simultaneously.

She returns along the path and is almost within reach of home when a silver Range Rover, top-end I note, pulls up alongside her. It looks like the driver calls to her, and after a moment's hesitation, she steps closer, and I think she's smiling, which says that maybe she knows the occupant.

Suddenly the heavens open, and she turns to run toward our building, towards safety, and although my subconscious knows what's about to happen, I can't help willing her to run faster. It's like watching a horror movie, and I can't look away.