Page 101 of Playing With Temptation

“Okay, bud, here’s what’s gonna happen. My friend Wendy—Office Bennett, the one with you right now—is going to take you to go pick your Gigi. Then she’s gonna drive you home. Her partner is with her. Do you see him? Big tall guy with a beard?”

“Yeah.”

“His name is Frank. Officer Holliday. Both of them are going with you. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Any questions?”

“When will you be home?”

“I don’t know, son, I need to find your mom. I have a lot of friends helping me. We’re gonna find her.”

“Okay.”

“Lucas?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you. I’m gonna find your mom.”

“I believe you and I love you.”

“Are you okay to hang up so I can call your Gigi?”

“Wendy’s your friend?”

“Yes. On the way to your Gigi’s, ask her to tell you stories about her dancing poodle. I bet she’ll share pictures with you, too.”

“Can I keep my mom’s phone, in case I want to call you?”

“Absolutely. If I can’t answer, I’ll call you back as soon as I can, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’m hanging up, now, Lucas.”

“Bye.”

I hesitated, waiting to see if he’d say anything else.

No, I hesitated because I didn’t want to lose my connection with Lucas, but I had to call Barb.

I ended the call.

Ethan reappeared in the frame of the open door.

“Dylan was in a meeting. He was pulled and briefed. He’s working on Hollaway now. I also gave Cap Julian’s name. She’s running him personally. As soon as she has something, she’ll be sending units out. Everette and Cody are getting the store’s security feeds. They already called in, the store manager is cooperating. My dad called. He got word from my brother, he wants to know if you want my mom and aunts to go to your house. Honor’s on standby, she’s ready to go over with my kids. Valentine and Sophie are already on thier way to your house, but they’re thirty minutes out. TC’s been mobilized. It’s all hands, Jase. We’re gonna find her.”

Find her.

I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of the station, and my woman was God knows where.

I’m a fucking cop and my woman is missing.

“I should’ve dug deeper,” I muttered.

“You’re going down the wrong fucking path, brother.”