“Oh. I hadn’t noticed that.”
“Most people use patterns when they’re setting up aliases. It’s a rookie mistake.”
“Good catch.”
“There’s a utility customer under the name of Iris Benson. She activated the account about three months ago.”
Delaney ignored the surge of hope. “Where?”
“Alyssa’s still working on that. I’ll get back to you. I just wanted you to know we’re making progress. Don’t give up.”
“Thanks, cuz.” Delaney ended the call, still driving, still searching for Violet’s car. Maybe she’d get lucky.
One way or another, they had to find Charlotte. Delaney couldn’t fathom the pain Noah and Jasper—and she herself—would feel if they didn’t.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Lowell’s phone mocked Noah from where it sat on the patio table, Hayes’s name bright on the screen. The call went to voicemail for the third time.
Noah’s patience, already stretched tissue-thin, was about to snap.
“I can’t force him to answer.” Lowell’s usual arrogance had melted away. His shoulders were hunched, his body practically doubled over as if the weight of Charlotte’s kidnapping—and his part in it—were pressing him down.
Noah grabbed the phone before the screen locked and opened the text app. His thumbs flew across the screen as he typed.
GET SOMEPLACE WHERE YOU’RE ALONE AND CALL ME NOW -NOAH
He sent the message, then stood and paced Lowell’s immaculate patio with the brand-new furniture and artfully placed decor. He couldn’t help the urge to kick over a potted plant.
The grass was too green. The flowers too bright. Nothing was right.
They’d discovered Charlotte missing at around eight o’clock that morning. It was now almost two thirty. Six and a half hours.
But she’d been gone much longer than that. While Noah had lain in bed sleeping, fighting nightmares about stalkers and guns and too-pleasant dreams about the nanny he couldn’t have, someone had broken into his house. Crept up the creaky staircase. Snatched his niece.
He’d done nothing to protect her. Nothing.
By now, Charlotte could be hundreds of miles away. Thousands, if Violet had bought a plane ticket.
She could be anywhere.
“What if he doesn’t call back?” Lowell asked, his voice small.
“He’ll call,” Noah snapped. Hayes had to call because if he didn’t… Noah couldn’t even consider it.
If Hayes didn’t call, then Noah had no idea what he’d do next.
Each step was a struggle against the urge to put his fist through something, especially his old so-called friend who’d set this horror show into motion. “He wants the merger. He’ll do anything for it. He’ll call.”
But the minutes crawled by like hours. Noah’s mind raced with images of Charlotte—scared, calling for him, wondering why he hadn’t protected her. He pressed his fingertips against his temples, trying to force the thoughts away.
When Lowell’s phone finally rang in his hand, Noah nearly jumped out of his skin. He swiped to answer. “Are you alone?” He sounded tight and controlled despite the hurricane raging inside him.
In the background, he heard voices—multiple people talking.
Lowell stood and crossed to Noah, gaze flicking from the phone to Noah’s face.
“I can’t.” Hayes’s usual confidence was gone, replaced by a genuine note of fear.
