Page 32 of Memories of You

Many of Stark Security’s agents were away on otherassignments, but everyone who was available was now gathered in the Fairchildand Partners Development office. Nikki and Damien were there too, Nikki pacingthe hall as she spoke to the owners of Greystone-Branch. They were working thecase as well, digging into their recent hire’s background. Because Renlycouldn’t believe this was the first time Darrin had done something like this.

“Okay, thanks,” he heard Nikki say.

She came in to the break room—now Command Central—andrelayed that Bijan, one of Greystone’s owners, had talked to Darrin’s lastemployer.

Although they hadn’t mentioned it when Bijan had called fora recommendation, he admitted now that Darrin had been let go because ofharassment complaints from the female staff.

“So he’s escalating,” Winston said.

“Did he say anything that might help us locate her?” Renlyasked.

Tony was already at Darrin’s apartment, searching his place.So far he hadn’t reported back.

Local law enforcement had been contacted, and a detectivewas on sight, working with the team. The LAPD had agreed to let Stark Securitytake point, but they had a team working in the field and were prepared torespond once Abby was located.

Mario was checking traffic cams, hoping to get lucky andparse out the route Darrin took with Abby. So far, he’d only been able to trackthem a few blocks away before losing the thread.

Leah, with whom Renly had worked the most in his short timeat Stark Security, was on the phone with someone at the county, working ahunch. Now he watched as she paced the far side of the room.

So far, it didn’t look like her hunch was playing out.

As for himself, Renly was feeling damn useless. His head wasthrobbing, and he didn’t have a single goddamn clue as to where the son of abitch had taken her.

Leah came over and took his hand. “Hang in there,” she said.“We’re going to get her back.”

He wanted to believe her, but fear was clinging to him. He’dhad so much in his life just ripped out of his hands, and he was desperatelyafraid that Abby was going to follow that pattern.

And why the hell had he told her he didn’t want to be in arelationship? She had to be scared, and he wished that he’d told her everythingin his heart, if only so she’d have that to cling to.

He thought about his mother and Elise. His mother had waitedtoo damn long. Years too long. Hell, for that matter, so had Renly. He shouldhave told Abby he loved her on his first night back.

What was there to think about? Why would he say he didn’twant to have a relationship with her?

Because he was an idiot. Because he was so goddamn afraid oflosing her that he’d never claimed her.

And now here he was, and losing her was a very realpossibility. And he was fucking useless between the vertigo and the jackhammerpounding in his head in the wake of the damn drugs.

Just get the fuck over it, Cooper. Quit feeling sorryfor yourself and work the problem.

He looked at Ryan. “We need to track down his family tree.See if anyone alive owns property. Or if he inherited something that he hasn’ttaken title of yet.”

Ryan nodded, and Nikki, still on the phone, stepped in, herhead cocked as she listened to them speaking. Then she held up a finger.“Bijan, let me ask you something,” she said, her voice fading as she steppedback out into the hall again.

Renly followed, his forehead creased with a frown. Damienwas in the hall as well, also on the phone, and he looked up when Nikkiclutched his arm.

“No, that’s perfect,” she said. “We’ll check it out. Yes, ofcourse I’ll keep you updated.”

She turned and looked at Renly. “His uncle owns a buildingin the garment district. Greystone considered buying and renovating it foroffice space but decided not to. It’s not much,” she said, “but at least it’s alead.”

* * * *

Renly stared at the building, the old, abandoned warehousein the garment district. It was a small one, currently under renovations, andthere was an ancient, rickety fire escape that ran up one side.

“Heat signature on the third floor,” Leah said beside him.

“The main doors are locked tight,” Ryan said. “We can blowthem, but it’ll take a while to do it silently. We don’t want him to know we’recoming.”

Renly nodded slowly, taking it all in. He looked at the fireescape. At the places where it appeared to be coming loose from the brick. Justlooking at it made the world tilt beneath him.