Page 105 of My Favorite Kidnapper

“Yes. She said she was glad that was behind you.”

“Ah. Good.”

I wasn’t sure why her lack of response bothered me so much.

We talked for a few more minutes, and I hung up.

I had to fight down my jealousy. Paolo got to have her cake. Sit with her and help her with her dream.

That was what I wanted for her. Why I was so upset she was doing exactly what I wanted her to do was a mystery. I was proud of her, and yet oddly disappointed.

I called Richard next. He had been in close contact since he left, even offering his own team to help with the investigation. I had assured him I would let him know if they were needed.

“Stupid idiots,” he mumbled. “As if you’d beat him to death and leave the body to be found.”

I laughed. “You think I’d beat him and dispose of the body, is that what you’re saying?”

“Of course. You are far too clever to have left that detail out.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“How is our girl?” he asked, changing the subject.

I told him what my brother had said, and he was quiet for a moment. “So, she is moving on?”

“It appears so. It is for the best.”

He didn’t reply for a moment. “You don’t think you were what was best for her?”

“I wasn’t thinking most of the time I was with her. That might have been the problem.”

“Or the blessing,” he replied. “Sometimes love offers us that.”

Then he hung up.

I had no idea what he meant.

* * *

A few days later, my phone rang and I answered. “Paolo.”

He cut right to the chase. “Brianna is missing.”

I stood. “What?”

“She isn’t at Carolina’s. There was no bakery. No shopping. She left.”

“And went where?”

“I have no idea. Carolina refuses to tell me. She won’t tell me how long she’s been gone. She says I interfered enough.”

I began to pace.

“I checked. I have no charges on the credit card. I even looked at the accounts you set up for her. Nothing’s been touched.”

I sat down, pulling up Brianna’s old accounts. “She hasn’t taken anything. Where the hell could she go without money?” I stood again and paced. “And why the hell would she go?” A thought occurred to me. “What about the cat?”

“She took the damn cat to Carolina’s. It’s still there.”