AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Got to go.”
“Yeah, you do.” Shiloh slips headphones over her ears. I tap her, not liking her tone, and give her a displeased face. The kind of jocular displeased expression I’d give Sophia during a FaceTime call. Shiloh smirks, and I roll my eyes. The familiar jesting pattern twists my insides. The reality that I might not see Sophia again filters through my conscience. It was one thing to believe she’d been rebellious. It is another thing to know she’s been abducted.
Ice-blue eyes patiently track my route through the desks. I don’t have to look to know he watches. His unreadable expression sends tingles across my skin. I stand straighter and push my shoulders back.
As I approach the wall of man, my oxygen supply dwindles. He easily stands half a foot taller than me, but his physical prowess isn’t derived merely from height. It’s his width and breadth, combined with the perma-scowl and those piercing light blue irises. His wavy dark hair and defined jaw round him out with a potent masculine beauty. My stomach knots, my pulse quickens, and I force my gaze to rise from the floor, up his strong legs, trim waist, and broad chest, to face the ice head on.
“This press release is going out Monday morning. Wayne Killington is stepping in as interim CEO.”
I scan the one-page release.
“Did you know about this?” This feels big to me, but I don’t get the same read from Ryan. He’s acting like he always does, and he’s simply updating me.
“I believe it’s standard practice for a public company. He can’t be expected to focus on work when his daughter is missing.” I pull out my phone and do a quick search. A link from a financial news service appears with the headline “Sullivan Arms CEO Jackson Sullivan replaced by Wayne Killington.” I click on the link. It takes seconds to skim the short article.
Comments are posted below the news article. I read a portion of one comment out loud. “Replacement due to personal reasons, but inside sources say the replacement is due to two years of subpar revenue growth.” Ryan’s shoulders lift slightly, and his blank gaze appears introspective. “The public is aware his daughter is missing. You’d think they’d lead with that.”
“Did you know Wayne is his replacement?” When I first met man, I’d assumed he was Jack’s driver, but probably because of the colorful Hawaiian shirt he wore.
“Jack said Wayne would be helping out. He didn’t use the phrase ‘interim CEO.’ But Jack depends on him. He made that clear. That’s not why I called you over. My FBI contact is here. Agent Liam Ryland. He texted about ten minutes ago. The FBI is assembling a team for this case. He’s going to meet with us as planned, but the San Diego office is in the process of assigning a team to this case.”
CHAPTER14
114 Hours Missing
Ryan
Special Agent Liam Ryland enters our floor in a Saturday casual outfit of starched khakis and a button-down short-sleeve shirt. Based out of the Los Angeles field office, I met Liam once before. A contact in cybercrime provided his information when I originally spoke to them about the Sophia Sullivan case. After a brief conversation on the phone yesterday, Liam agreed to meet unofficially since it worked for his personal schedule.
My plan had been to run the case by him and see if anything stood out. The FBI gets involved in missing persons cases under specific situations. If Sophia had been under twelve, they’d be more than involved; they’d be leading the case. At under eighteen, they would assist with the case if the local police department asked. At the time of my conversation with Liam yesterday, they hadn’t asked.
The spliced video proved foul play. And Jack brought the case before the public eye. If, for any reason, we suspected they had removed Sophia from the country, then the FBI would lead the case. Liam didn’t say it on the phone, but given the increasingly high-profile nature of the case, I fully expect as soon as the FBI has a team in place, they will take the lead. Arrow’s involvement will continue only so long as Jack Sullivan wants us involved.
Several heads in the cubicles watch as Agent Ryland crosses the room. I stand in the doorway to the conference room, arms crossed. I appreciate the agent offering his Saturday morning to meet, and I want his perspective, especially considering recent findings, but I also need him to understand ground rules. If Arrow is involved, we play my way. Some agents think they own the world, thanks to the three-letter acronym in their job title.
“Special Agent Ryland.” I offer my hand. “Thank you for coming out.”
His grip is firm, solid, and he looks me straight in the eyes. He’s about six feet. Not too far off Alex’s height.
“I’m Ryan Wolfgang.”
His hands rest on his colorful blue-and-green belt buckle. White golf balls decorate the band.
“Did I hear correctly? You’re working with Dr. Rolfe?”
“She’s right here.” I guide him inside the conference room. Alex rises from her seat and holds out her hand. Ryland blatantly scans her up and down, and I don’t like it at all. As quickly as the rush of anger floods me, it dissipates when I observe surprise is Liam’s dominant response.
“You were expecting my father, right?” The green in her eyes is stronger. Is it the room’s light, or is that defiance?
“I’ve met Dr. Rolfe before.” Ryland grins. “He’s your father? He’s given lectures at Quantico.”
“He’s my dad.” She smiles good-naturedly, and her shoulders lift slightly. “But I’m also Dr. Rolfe.”
“Well, your dad is a legend. Is he here?”
“No, lives in Edinburgh. I live here in Santa Barbara.”
“She’s assisting us on the Sophia Sullivan case,” I put in.
