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“How do you know she’d tell me if she has a problem?” Ted asked.
Luke gave him a slow smile. “She looks at you like Rory looks at Jake.”
“No way,” Ted said, when inside he did a mental high five at the thought.
“Teddy Bear, you’re head over heels for that girl, you just haven’t realized it yet. And Mandy, well, she’s changed, and it’s my belief you could be contributing to that.”
Ted went for, “It’s complicated.”
“Most good things in life are, bud. It’s how you uncomplicate them that matters. That, and the thought of living without her. How does that prospect sit with you?”
“Not so good,” Ted had to admit. In fact, it shocked him how “not good” the idea of not having Mandy in his life felt.
“Carpe diem, Ted.”
“Seize the day? You been spending time with Mr. Goldhirsh?”
“Something like that. Now go and find her. It’s only been thirty minutes, so she’s possibly just got distracted.
“Leaving, and thanks.”
“No sweat. Sometimes we just need someone to clear the way for us.”
“You’re a smart man, you know that, Luke? We lose sight of that because of your loudmouthed brothers.”
Luke’s laughter followed him out the building. He climbed the stairs and banged on her door.
“Mandy, open up, it’s me, Ted!”
She didn’t answer, so he hammered harder on the door. If she’d been sleeping, he would have woken her. He tried the door; it was locked.
There was no window for him to look in, so he went back down the stairs. Her car was still parked behind the shop. Something felt off, he just couldn’t work out what. Pulling out his phone, he called her. It went to voice mail.
Getting back into his car, he drove to the Robbins house. The sisters’ car was there. Maybe they’d picked her up and brought her here?
Knocking on the front door, he stepped back to wait. Miss Marla answered with a smile.
“Hi, Ted, what can we do for you?”
“I’m looking for Mandy, Miss Marla. You seen or heard from her?”
“We haven’t. You come on inside now. I’ve just put the coffee on.”
“Oh, I—” A shriek came from inside. He passed Miss Marla on the way to Miss Sarah.
She was standing by the counter, hands clasped to her mouth, her phone on the floor. She was white as a ghost.
“Sarah, what’s happened!”
Ted reached her. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he held her upright as she swayed.
“It’s Mandy,” Miss Sarah whispered. “He has her.”
“Who?” Ted demanded.
“Logan Hall, the man who killed her father.”
“No!” Miss Marla sagged against Ted’s other side.
