Chapter One
Carter
“Damn, it’s good to be home,” Carter said over his shoulder as he stepped out through the airport’s main entrance. He pulled in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Real good.”
Seb, his travelling companion, a friend and fellow CIA operative, grunted. “Shame you’re not here under better circumstances.”
Carter shrugged. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
He’d said that same line or some version of it about twenty times since his mother had called him and told him his sister, Megan, was missing. He wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince anymore, other people, or himself. He had assured his mom and his friends that he wasn’t concerned about his sister’s supposed disappearance, but he was secretly anxious. Megan often avoided their mother’s calls for a while after they’d had an argument, but she had never ignored Carter’s calls before. They had a great relationship, so the radio silence was disturbing.
“Hey, Carter, over here!”
Carter turned to see his father striding toward them. It had been a few months since he had last seen his dad, but the man looked as full of vitality as ever. However, Carter couldn’t help but notice the worry lines around his father’s eyes as he approached.
“Hey, son,” his dad said as he wrapped him in a bear hug that made Carter feel as safe and protected as he had when he was a young boy. “Good to see you back here.”
“It’s good to be back,” Carter said when they separated. “This is my friend, Seb.”
“Sir,” Seb greeted him respectfully.
“Good to meet you,” his father replied, clasping Seb’s giant paw of a hand. “Wow, they sure do make them big where you’re from.”
Seb chuckled. “You should see the size of my brother. He towers over me.”
“Seb’s a bear shifter,” Carter supplied.
His father nodded knowingly. “That explains it.”
As the three of them made their way to the parking lot, Carter’s father quickly turning the conversation to Megan. “You know, she’s probably just out there, somewhere, clearing her head,” he said, his tone light. “You know how your sister gets.”
But as they approached the family’s old sedan, Carter caught his father’s gaze, and in the depths of those familiar eyes, he saw a shimmer of worry. It was a subtle hint, a fleeting expression quickly masked, but it was there. It was the look of a father who was genuinely concerned for his child. An unpleasant sensation settled into the pit of Carter’s stomach.
Driving back to the family home, the tall pine trees lining the road seemed unchanged, a solid reminder of his childhood. The air smelled fresher and cleaner than the bustling metropolis he’d gotten used to. But beneath that familiarity, there was a lingering tension that kept him on edge.
When they arrived at his childhood home, Carter’s mother rushed out of the house, her apron still tied around her waist. She hugged Carter tightly, her fingers digging into his back as if holding onto him would dispel all her worries.
“Oh, Carter, I’ve been so worried,” she whispered into his ear. His mother shared none of her husband’s propensity to pretend that nothing was wrong.
“Mom, I’m sure she’s okay,” he tried to reassure her. But his words felt hollow even to his own ears.
Breaking the embrace, she looked Seb up and down, sizing him up. “And you must be Seb,” she said with a slight smile, her eyes studying his robust frame. “Carter’s told me about you. You CIA boys sure are big.”
Seb chuckled, giving a small, polite nod. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
She ushered them inside, and the aroma of a hearty meal wafted from the kitchen. Within moments, the dining table was laden with dishes—a pot roast, mashed potatoes, and a side of green beans.
Seb’s eyes lit up as he beheld the spread. “Ma’am, this looks incredible,” he said, the gratitude evident in his voice.
Carter’s mother beamed. “Eat up! A growing boy like you must be hungry.”
The next hour was a blur of stories, laughter, and Seb consuming an almost inhuman amount of food. Carter was glad to see him enjoying himself, but given the grim reason for their trip, Carter was struggling to do the same. For his mother’s benefit, he put on a brave face, but he was pretty sure that he wasn’t fooling anyone.
Later, as the sun made its descent toward the horizon, casting a deep golden hue on the landscape, Carter stood up. “Dad, mind if I borrow your car? I want to go check on Megan’s place.”
His father tossed him the keys without a word, the weight of the situation palpable. Carter caught them smoothly, nodding his thanks. He turned to Seb, who was polishing off the last piece of apple pie. “You going to be okay here for a while?”
Seb grinned, patting his stomach. “I think I’ll manage.”
