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“Now I just need the award as proof.” She kissed him, took his hand, and headed out the door.
Twenty minutes later, they were in the venue. A fancy catering hall on the outskirts of town and right on the water. They entered, and everyone seemed to know Allison. She smiled and waved, introducing him to too many people, though he tried to remember them all.
He spotted a bar and visibly relaxed. Allison immediately noticed.
“I’m going to go to the bathroom to freshen up.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll be right back. Get me a wine.”
He waited in line, looking around at all the faces, making sure nobody looked suspicious or that Louie didn’t happen to make a surprise appearance.
The bartender pointed at him, and he ordered a glass of wine for Allison and a whisky for himself. He handed over his card, then slid the drinks out of the way. He sent Allison a text, letting her know the drinks were secured. He waited for a silly reply, but she was probably too busy fixing her makeup.
He took a sip of his whisky and looked around at the crowd. Most people were dressed to the nines, but none of them could hold a candle to Allison.
Too much time passed, and he glanced at his watch to make sure it wasn’t just his impatience. With the two drinks in his hand, he made his way to the bathroom.
A woman walked out, and he caught her, nodding to the bathroom door. “Could you tell me if there’s a woman in there in a black dress, dark hair?”
“No, I’m sorry. A few blondes and a brunette in a pink dress.”
“Thank you.” Maybe Allison already went to the table without him. He glanced into the main room but didn’t spot her. Maybe there was another bathroom. He made his way to the opposite side of the building.
“Do you know if there’s another bathroom?” he asked a woman dressed in black pants and a white top.
“Yes, just around the corner and down the hall.”
“Thank you.”
His phone rang as he headed there. He put the drinks on a ledge and snatched up his phone. The station's number flashed on the screen. “Hello?” He continued to scan, searching for Allison. Leaving the drinks behind. He headed to that other bathroom.
“Reid, it’s Judy.”
“What’s up, Judy? I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
“I know, and I hate to bother you, but someone called the station looking for you.”
Reid froze. “Who?”
“Said his name was Angelo, and it was an emergency. He needed to talk to you as soon as possible.”
Ice ran through his veins. Angel wouldn’t call unless it was an emergency. “Thanks Judy. I’ll call him back.” He ended the call and immediately dialed the number he had memorized years ago, just in case.
“Reid?” Angel’s voice came through the line. “Thank God.”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s Louie. He’s gone missing. He didn’t check in with his parole officer. He could be dead or he could be looking to settle old debts.”
“Fuck!”
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Allison, I’m at an event with her, and I can’t find her.”
“The reporter?” He hadn’t told Angel much about Allison, but he supposed he mentioned her enough for Angel to know who she was.
“The woman I’m going to marry.” Marco was right. She drove him nuts, but he couldn’t imagine life without her, and if Louie had her, he would kill the bastard like he should have done fifteen years ago. Instead, he let the court system provide justice. But what kind of justice was that when the psycho was let out back on the streets? Even if he did provide info to the feds, he was a dangerous individual who did more than what the authorities even knew. Reid knew, though, which was why he had to find Allison.
“Shit man, I didn’t know.”
