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“I don’t blame you. If you’ve had your abilities all your life, that means you saw more than you’ll ever remember. I wouldn’t go around shouting it from the rooftops eith
er. I bet you learned early on what you could and couldn’t tell people.”
“Now I’ve got goosebumps.” It was strange not knowing how she dealt with her own abilities as a child. “How did nobody notice?”
“They did.” Laura held up the bear. “That’s why I always gave you this.”
“Yeah, people thought I was weird, but what about Mom and Dad?”
“That’s a question you’ll have to ask them.”
“I’ll add it to the list.”
“Now’s your chance.”
Cassie followed Laura’s gaze and saw their mom approaching. She wore a frown that deepened the lines around her mouth.
“Mom, are you okay?”
Her mom shook her head. “I just got some bad news.”
“What is it?” Laura set her coffee down. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She picked up the remote and turned on the news. “I just heard about this.”
Cassie and Laura faced the TV. A man in a navy suit sat behind a desk on the left side of the screen. Reporters on the front steps of a government building filled the right side. They waited for someone. The bottom of the screen read Senator Lawrence Grayson’s son missing, foul play suspected.
“Sad news this morning.” Sorrow laced the man’s deep baritone voice. “Presidential-hopeful Senator Lawrence Grayson’s son has gone missing. Police suspect foul play after they discovered his vehicle abandoned in a parking garage on East Sixth Street in downtown Charlotte. Connor Grayson, age nineteen, has been the subject of many headlines over the past year, having publicly stated on social media that he does not agree with his father’s politics. Mr. Grayson was arrested twice, once for possession of marijuana and once for unauthorized access of a protected computer. We do not yet know whether Mr. Grayson’s disappearance is related to a similar crime.”
The reporter held a finger to his ear and nodded once. “Ladies and gentleman, I’ve just gotten word that Senator Grayson is about to address reporters who have gathered outside his Charlotte office. Nicole Rickman is on the scene. Over to you, Nicole.”
The first reporter’s image disappeared as the second reporter stepped into the frame. She had bright green eyes and hair slicked back into a tight bun. Her smile was somber as she took the reins.
“Thank you, Colt. As you said, we don’t know much at the moment, only that Senator Grayson’s son is missing and his car was abandoned. Police suspect foul play, as the car’s driver’s side window was smashed in, but there’s no other indication that Connor Grayson was injured. Authorities here in Charlotte have pooled their resources to solve this case quickly and have even brought in the FBI to assist them. All hands are on deck, and the hope is that Connor is safe and sound.”
As murmurs in the background grew to hushed whispers, the woman turned and pointed to the podium erected outside the offices. “The Senator has just left the building and is about to make his first statement on the matter. We sincerely hope there is good news to share.”
10
Grayson squinted against the brightness of the outside world. The chill in the air caused goosebumps to erupt on his skin, but he ignored the discomfort and took a deep breath. They hadn’t yet had their first snowfall of the year, but every day got colder. It was only a matter of time.
Another inevitability was this press conference. As charismatic as he was, Grayson didn’t enjoy public speaking. One-on-one, he’d sell sand at the beach. But mob mentality was powerful, even for those who were well-versed in manipulation.
As Grayson stepped up to the podium, he kept his head down. His mind was racing, but it wasn’t because of the dozen reporters who had gathered to hear him talk about his missing son. It was because he knew Anastasia had three television screens in her office, and she was watching him speak on each one. They had rehearsed what he would say, but there was no guaranteeing it would come out of his mouth the way they had practiced it.
After adjusting the mic, Grayson cleared his throat and looked up. The Politician wanted to smile and smooth everything over. Nothing to see here, folks. Everything is fine. Boys will be boys, right? But Anastasia had dismissed that approach from the start. Grayson needed to be full of sorrow and hope. He needed to be vulnerable but strong. He needed to be a father before he was a politician.
But he wasn’t very good at being any of those things.
“Thank you for joining me today.” Grayson cleared his throat again, surprised by the shake in his voice. “As you have no doubt heard, my son, Connor, is missing. Yesterday, I was informed that his car was abandoned in a parking garage in downtown Charlotte. As of right now, we’re not sure why he was there or where he went afterward. We’re also not sure if the window to his car was broken before, during, or after he went missing.”
Grayson resisted the urge to fidget with his tie. It constricted his throat, growing tighter by the second. He chanced a glance up at the crowd before him and saw a dozen impassive faces. One or two looked concerned, but the majority appeared bored. They were here to do their job. They didn’t care about his son.
“The Charlotte Police Department has assured me they are doing everything within their power to find Connor and bring him home.” He took a deep breath and shifted from foot to foot. Was it an act, or was it genuine discomfort at the idea his son may never return? Even he wasn’t sure anymore. “My team and I are working closely with Detective Calvin Davenport and fully cooperating with the investigation. As of right now, there is no indication my son’s disappearance is a political matter, but the FBI has sent one of their teams to assist in the investigation. For this, I am grateful.”
Up until this point, Grayson felt relatively comfortable. He was reciting facts, after all. But now came the hard part. The part he always struggled with. How could he speak directly to his son at a moment like this, when he hardly did it in the comfort of their own home? Grayson wasn’t sure if his wife would be watching, but he knew any sign the Politician was in control would be catastrophic for their marriage.
Grayson looked directly into the camera in front of him.
