Page 61 of Facade

“I will help in any way I can,” Heath promised. “But, I don’t know anything. I wish I did.”

He couldn’t imagine the stress and pressure she’d been under with her only living parent missing. Having to impersonate a man while covertly investigating her coworkers, and searching for clues added to that burden. Mitch had made things even more difficult with his relentless attacks.

As if that wasn’t complex enough, Clarke had also been hiding a mate bond that wasn’t easy to nurture under the circumstances. That aspect would be doubled now, with him in the picture.

Clarke Voudrie was a strong, impressive woman that Heath was proud to have bonded. He vowed to himself that somehow, he would make her life easier rather than becoming another complication.

Jace shook his head. “Clarke’s visions have never been wrong. She had to have drawn you for a reason.”

“You think I know something, without realizing that I do,” Heath said. It was possible. They just had to dig, and ask the right questions. “I didn’t recognize his name, so whatever I do know might be connected to him indirectly, somehow. Tell me everything, the day Charlie went missing, where he was last seen. Hopefully, we can put this together.”

Jace

Having dinner at Heath’s house felt more natural than it should have. They had never socialized outside of work unless you counted seeing one another at sports events, which Jace didn’t. The fact that Jace had accosted Heath mid-run and questioned him while disguised less than two hours ago, made chatting amiably over a meal even more strange.

Clarke hadn’t put the bracelet back on yet. Though she still wore the clothes of her male persona, she clearly appreciated feeling like herself for the first time in weeks. Revealing herself to Heath had to have been scary, but also liberating.

Jace was happy for both her and himself that Clarke was able to drop the pretense. Seeing her looking and acting feminine was right and natural, versus the disconnect he felt when she exuded masculinity that he knew to be false.

Heath had assured her that with the wards up, even someone trying to peep through the windows wouldn’t have a clear view of her. She was safe here.

Jace was shocked at first that Clarke had bonded Heath. Now that he thought about it, though, it made sense. They had a lot in common with each other.

For himself, Jace was glad. Heath was a good person with strong ethics. He wouldn’t have to worry about Heath cherishing Clarke, and treating her with respect.

If she had bonded a complete stranger, there would be a longer adjustment period, and more complications. An added advantage was that Heath’s house was outside of town, with few neighbors. It was private enough that they could meet here to strategize and get to know each other without drawing unwanted attention.

Having another person who was aware of the truth helping search for Charlie was an obvious benefit. Heath could have ideas they hadn’t considered. The missing students might not be connected to Charlie, but it was possible, and he and Clarke hadn’t known about that mystery until today.

It went without saying that he and Clarke would help Heath protect the students, and solve the mysteries on his board. They could put their heads together on that another time.

If students were being targeted at the regional tournament, they had months to plan. One way or another, Clarke would still be here through the end of the school year even if Charlie had been found before then.

Jace reached out to hold one of Clarke’s hands, and laced their fingers together. She was still off kilter from bonding Heath, and the upsetting discovery that graduates from several colleges were missing. He hoped that his presence would help ground her.

Clarke squeezed his fingers in silent gratitude, and sent him a small, fleeting smile. After taking a breath, she recounted everything in detail, beginning with the day Charlie failed to return from his fishing trip.

Suddenly, Heath sat up straight, looking excited, and he held up a hand in a wordless request for Clarke to pause.

“Wait, you said Charlie’s car was found abandoned at a rest stop?” Heath asked. “Do you know the interstate and mile marker off-hand?”

They both knew that because Jace had been making inquiries for her with the police, in hopes of learning something. With building hope, Jace rattled off the pertinent information. Heath had a reason for asking that.

Jumping out of his chair, Heath picked up a tablet from the coffee table, and began tapping the screen. His eyes scanned whatever he was looking at.

“There it is,” Heath said with satisfaction as he set the tablet down. “Damn.”

Clarke was staring at Heath with the same fragile hope Jace was feeling. “What did you find?” Clarke asked breathlessly, clenching Jace’s fingers with hers.

Heath walked back to sit in the chair facing them. “I’m sorry to say that I still have no idea where Charlie is. However, I do think I know why he went missing, and what happened. One of the things I was trying to find answers for is the disappearance of Dr. Lauren Prentiss, who is a member of the faculty at the Denver Institute of Evolved Studies. I wondered whether or not there is a connection between her and the missing students.”

He recognized her name from the whiteboard, but those mysteries weren’t his priority right now. Jace made an effort to be patient, and listen. Heath had to have a reason for droning on about a random woman they had never heard of before.

“Dr. Prentiss purchased a ticket for a seat on a luxury tour bus to Pittsburgh,” Heath continued. “She was last seen at the same rest stop Charlie’s car was found at, on the same day. From what you said, Clarke, it sounds like they were there at approximately the same time, as well. I am guessing that Charlie tried to stop the abduction of Dr. Lauren Prentiss, or was taken by her kidnappers because he was a witness.”

Clarke gasped. “That’s exactly what Charlie would have done,” Jace said. “He’s not the type to turn away from someone in trouble.”

“And Dad would have known, just by looking at them, that something was wrong, possibly what they were planning,” Clarke said, then continued at Heath’s look of confusion. “Dad reads auras. He can detect a wide range of feelings, from intense to mild. He would have seen her fear, or the harmful intent of the kidnappers, and tried to stop it.”