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He ignored the fear clawing its way up his throat and turned his emotions off. If he was going to find her, he didn’t have time to panic. He needed to think.
He headed toward the other bathroom, knocked on the door, and let himself in, checking each stall. An announcement overhead alerted the ceremony would start in three minutes. Allison would never willingly miss that. She’d been so excited about it the last few days, so confident she would win.
He hurried out of the bathroom, and his eye caught on something on the floor. He bent down and took Allison’s bracelet into his hand. She was here, and if he knew her, she dropped this on purpose. But where did the trail lead?
There were several bends and each one of them led in a different direction. He followed the first bend, and his phone rang. He snatched it out of his pocket, and Luna’s name flashed on the screen. Maybe Allison called her or maybe she knew where Allison was. Maybe there was an emergency and Allison’s phone died. “Luna?”
“Reid, hey. Allison’s not answering her phone. Do you know why she’s withdrawing her nomination for the award?”
“What are you talking about?”
“She just posted a video on her social media that she’s withdrawing and that the story was fabricated for her own gain. Which is bullshit.”
He thrust his hand into his hair. He didn’t want to worry Luna, and he knew Allison wouldn’t want her to know she was in danger. “I have no idea, but I’ll find out.”
“Aren’t you with her?”
“She went to the bathroom. Can you send me that video?”
“Reid, what aren’t you telling me?” Luna’s mom voice, as Allison once called it, kicked into full gear.
Fuck. Allison was going to kill him, but what choice did he have?
“Someone has been stalking her, and now I can’t fucking find her.” The control he had of his emotions slipped and fear laced his words.
Luna gasped. “She’s been kidnapped?”
“It appears so, but Luna. I promise you I will find your sister. But I need that video. It might have a clue.”
A few sniffs came over the line. “I sent it.”
Reid looked at his phone, the notification flashing on his phone. “Okay Luna, I will find her.”
“I trust you, and I know Allison does, too. Don’t let her down, Reid.”
“I won’t.”
Reid hung up the phone and clicked on the video. The stupid thing wasn’t loading. It was the twenty-first century, yet cell service still sucked in their small town. He headed for the door, picking up speed when he came to a halting stop. A lipstick case grabbed his attention. He bent down and took the cap off. He’d know that color anywhere. It had been smeared all over his mouth earlier.
The lipstick was right next to the door. Reid ran out into the parking lot, scanning the area. “Allison!” He yelled, but no one responded.
He clicking into the video, hoping for a clue. Hoping for a fucking miracle. While the video loaded, visions of his mom bounced in and out of his head. The pictures of her dead body he’d found in his dad’s office a few weeks after the murder. His dad had told him he was having his guys look into it to find her killer. Meanwhile, he was the killer the whole fucking time.
Allison’s face drowned out the past, pushing forward, but then her whisky-colored eyes went lifeless, a hole in her head, expanding and oozing blood. No! He wouldn’t let himself go there.
The video loaded, and he hit play. Allison’s face came on the screen. Her hair was a little disheveled, but other than that, she looked okay. But there was that fake smile, forcing its way onto her face. Her eyes lacked their usual brightness, and she looked like she was staring directly at him, trying to tell him something. But what?
He stopped looking at her and scanned her surroundings. He squinted and peered closer. Was she in a van?
A loud bang echoed through the parking lot, and he snapped his gaze toward the sound, his eyes landing on a van.
Chapter 26
Allison saw a chance and took it. Headbutting always looked so much easier in the movies. A throbbing ache vibrated through her head, shooting shards of sharp edges around her forehead. Her surroundings dimmed, coming in and out of focus. She blinked, trying to center herself, but it was damn near impossible.
“You bitch!” the little shit snarled. He inhaled, taking deep breaths, his body amping up as if he was the Hulk. Except he didn’t turn green, and his shirt didn’t rip away. He was still the same misguided little shit as before.
“I made your video. Now let me go.”
