Page 104 of High Water

Levi:

Call me.

When he answers before a second ring, I’m grateful and on edge. It means he’s as worried as I am.

“Elijah’s sick and sent Casey from the MC to pick up Fallon. She left the party she was at a few minutes ago, but she never showed up at my truck. Kids at the party described a guy who meets Casey’s description.”

“Could she have gone straight home for some reason?” Levi ponders other possibilities.

“Not without texting me. She knows I’m waiting for her out here. We discussed it. It was even her idea.”

“Well fuck.”

“I need to call Aspen, but if you can start running that down the chain through Ledger. See if anyone has any ideas where Casey might have taken Fallon.”

“Let’s hope it’s a misunderstanding somewhere.”

“Let’s hope,” I agree, but I don’t have much hope in me. I can’t even think of a theoretical situation where this ends well.

“What do you mean you don’t know where she is?” Aspen’s voice turns glacial.

“Elijah was supposed to pick her up just like last time. Drive her the seven blocks to where I’m parked and then go home. But he got food poisoning and sent Casey instead. According to one of the girls at the party, Fallon left a while ago. If she’s not home, and you haven’t heard from her… I don’t have her. Elijah doesn’t either.”

“Where is Casey? Does Levi know? Does he have an address?” I hear the fear in Aspen’s voice.

“He’s on it. I let him know to call Ledger. I only called him first because I wanted that in motion before I called you and told you.” I try to reassure her any way I can.

“No, you did the right thing. I’m glad he’s on it already, or I’d be hanging up on you.”

“You want me to come get you?”

“Yes. Please. I don’t know what we’ll do, but I can’t just sit here. I feel sick.”

“I’m sure we’ll find her, and she’ll be fine. Probably just grabbing ice cream or something. Didn’t realize it was gonna take that long.” I try for something, anything, that sounds remotely plausible. I know I did nonsensical things when I was her age.

But by the end of the night, we haven’t found Fallon. She hasn’t come home. She hasn’t called or texted. And now when I ring her phone, it goes straight to voicemail. My stomach bottoms out, and I wrap my arms around Aspen as she sobs into my chest. I’m trying to hold it together for her, but my own composure is hanging by a thread at this point. I want my girl home, and I desperately want to know she’s safe.

Levi and Ledger meet us along with Grant and Dakota in his office.

“Any notes?”

“Casey’s missing too. I’ve got a couple of my guys and Levi’s searching for him. Hoping he’s out there somewhere, just at a bar or some other place. Mighta taken a shine to your daughter, and if she asked him to help her stay out past curfew, they could be out running around. But it’s a small town, you know. They have to turn up.” Ledger trails off when he sees my eyes go dark.

“If he took a shine to my fifteen-year-old daughter, I will take a shine to his fucking eye—both of them—his whole damn body will be black and blue for weeks. Organs might cease to fucking function.” I stand up, my fists balling as I try to find what’s left of my inner calm. If there even is any.

“I won’t stand in the way. Fuck, man. My guys will be there helping you. I don’t want this any more than you do; I’m just hoping it’s that over worse alternatives,” Ledger agrees.

“We have to find her first. Do you have tracking on her phone?” Levi looks at Aspen.

“No. I never had to because she always told me where she was going and what she was doing. She’s always followed that rule.” Aspen shakes her head, her eyes rimmed with red as she looks between us.

“I might still be able to get a few leads through my connections.” Levi looks at Grant. “Can we get some more guys out on the street? I know we’re spread thin, but the sooner the better on things like this.”

“Things like this?” Aspen asks, the concern in her voice making it shake.

“I just mean she’s missing. The faster we act, the more likely it is we find her close to home.” Levi gives her a sympathetic look before his eyes flick to mine, worry and anger swarming behind them, both of us at a loss for how to stop Aspen’s pain.

“I need my baby home,” Aspen cries into her hands, and I drop to my knees, wrapping my hands around her wrists.