Page 52 of Nun’s Prayer

“Hold it together, Blue. You’re doing great, buddy,” Cassidy urged. I walked out of the house and bent over with my hands on my knees. I dragged in some air and reined in my emotions. Aunt Kiki needed me to think clearly, not to panic.

“Blue! Blue!” someone shouted, and I looked up.

“Mrs Douns,” I answered.

“Dear boy, I heard nothing, but my surveillance may have picked something up. Can you send an officer over?” she called.

“Your cameras don’t point this way, Mrs Douns,” I responded, grating my teeth.

“One of the grandchildren knocked it with a ball a few days ago. There may be a clue,” Mrs Douns stated, and Cassidy cocked his head.

“House!” Wylde yelled, and a uniformed officer jogged over. “Go with this lady; she thinks her cameras might have captured the abduction.”

“Sure,” Katie House replied and headed for Mrs Douns.

“Blue, does your aunt have any enemies?” Cassidy asked.

“No, she’s a great person.”

“Has she had a fight or upset anyone lately?”

I went to say no, but paused. “It wasn’t Kiki, but Nun and I caught Loretta Brown here; she was applying for the job.”

“Loretta Brown?” Cassidy frowned.

“Nun said she was a Gerrit.”

Cassidy and Wylde swapped glances. Wylde stepped away and pulled out his phone.

“That’s a problem, isn’t it?” I snapped, scared by Wylde’s reaction.

“A little while back, someone beat the shit out of Jed, Luther Gerrit’s grandson. Luther’s one of the ‘Elder Gerrits’. Jed refused to say who did it. If the Gerrits think the Harlots were responsible, they might have taken Kiki as retaliation,” Cassidy explained.

My blood ran cold, and I felt dizzy. “Kiki has no connection with the club. Cassidy, she’s never set foot there.” I grabbed his sleeve.

“Blue, the Gerrits don’t care.”

“I’m sending a black and white to Loretta’s,” Wylde muttered, jogging back.

I sat down on the grass and dropped my head into my hands. Had I brought danger to Kiki? I’d never forgive myself if I had.

Sapphire

“Hey,” I said, answering Wylde’s call.

“Babe, I need an answer. Were you involved in Jed Gerrit’s beating?” he demanded.

“What’s happened?” I heard the alarm in his voice.

“Sapphire, I need the truth.”

“Tell me what has happened, Wylde,” I retorted. I couldn’t lie to him, but I wouldn’t incriminate my sisters.

“Someone broke into Blue’s aunt’s house last night and took his aunt. They beat her companion, who can’t identity anyone. Blue’s tearing himself up,” Wylde remarked.

“I’ll organise on this end,” I said and cut him off. I dialled Nun immediately. “Get to Kiki’s now. Someone’s abducted her; Blue needs you.”

“What?” Nuns startled squawk came through clearly.