“The ME estimated the time of death was sometime between midnight and two a.m.Her prints were in the system from when her father was a US ambassador to Belgium while she was in her teens.Her parents are on vacation in Hawaii, so her name isn’t being released until the morning, while they fly back tonight.The congressman notified them by phone a few hours ago.”
He shrugged his bad shoulder and grimaced.It had felt better most of the day, but now his neck was stiff with stress, and that was affecting the still-healing muscles.Grace planned to massage it again tonight before putting a heating pad on it.“Anyway, let’s talk about something else.How was your day?”
“Good.Bonnie and I are going out to eat and then to see that new movie we were talking about the other night.Want to join us?”
He shook his head.“No, thanks.I just want to go home, kick off my shoes, and order takeout.I’d probably be asleep ten minutes into a movie.”
“I hear ya.So…” Sean’s brow furrowed when his uncle’s words trailed off.The man was grinning and had a twinkle in his eyes.
“What?”
Dan shrugged not-so-innocently.“Nothing.Just wondering how things are going for you and Grace.”
“Oh, no.”Sean shook a finger at him.“Don’t start.At least, let me close this case before you and Bonnie start planning our wedding.Speaking of which, you two have been spending a lot of time together lately.More so than usual.”He arched a questioning eyebrow.“Something you want to tell the rest of us?”
The man’s smile got even wider.Oh, yeah, something was definitely going on.“Well, since you asked, I’ve started courting Bonnie.”
A laugh burst from Sean’s chest—the first one since he’d been joking around with Grace that morning.“Courting?Do people still do that nowadays?”
“I don’t care what other people call it or do nowadays.I courted Annie, although it didn’t last long.We were married two months after we met.”
Sean knew that story well, but he couldn’t imagine going from just meeting someone to wedded bliss eight weeks later—even though that was basically what KC and Moriah had done, give or take a week.
Apparently, back in the day, it wasn’t unheard of at all.In fact, his parents had only been “courting” three and a half months before they got engaged.But unlike Dan and Annie’s elopement, Tom and Megan Malone had done the church and reception thing after a six-month engagement.“Well, good for you.I’m happy for both of you.But why now, after all this time?Annie’s been gone for almost thirty years, and you and Bonnie have been good friends all along.”
This time, Dan shrugged.“I don’t know, to tell you the truth.Things just changed for the better between us, and I guess the time was right.”
“So when’s the wedding?”Sean teased.
“Don’t you turn the tables on me, boy.I’m getting all three of you married off before I can relax and settle down.You’re not getting any younger, you know.”
“That’s calling the kettle black, old man.”He pushed off the car and clapped his uncle on the back.“Anyway, you and Bonnie have fun.Let me go get Grace and find out what she wants for dinner tonight.”
“I’m right behind you.She called a little while ago and asked me to bring over a wrench after I closed.”He pulled the tool out of his back pocket.“The hose for the washing machine is dripping a little.”
Sean pulled open the door to the business, and Jinx rushed past him, looking for one of his favorite humans.Grace’s receptionist had left at the end of her shift at 4:00 p.m., so no one was sitting at the front desk.
The two men entered the large therapy room, and Sean glanced around.The only people there were Tim and an older gentleman who was in the process of buttoning up his dress shirt and getting ready to leave.
As Dan headed toward the laundry room, Sean asked Tim, “Where’s Grace?”
The man pointed toward the back door.“She took the garbage out.”He checked the clock as if suddenly realizing more time had passed than he thought.“But that was about ten minutes ago.”
Panicking, Sean set off at a dead run and slammed into the back door, throwing it wide open.His gaze went everywhere, hoping to find Grace was just talking to someone, having lost track of time.
Jinx followed on his heels, and he heard Dan and Tim also come out behind him.Grace was nowhere in sight, and her car was still parked in a space in the small lot.
“Grace!”he shouted, then pointed for Dan to head left while he went right and for Tim to check the car.“Grace!”
Jinx made a beeline to the dumpster two stores down, sniffing like mad, seemingly understanding the situation’s urgency.The dog was the first one to spot the single, white, slip-on shoe Grace had been wearing earlier, and Sean’s heart and stomach sank when he saw it.Jinx sniffed the shoe, then whined and looked up at him in confusion.
Leaving the shoe where it was, Sean pulled out his cell phone and found the number for the direct line to the on-duty desk sergeant at the sheriff’s department.
Fuck!Please let this be a nightmare or a joke.Please!
When the call was answered, he spoke with authority and a calm he didn’t feel.“This is Special Agent Sean Malone of the FBI.I need the sheriff and BCI to respond immediately to 113 Main Street in Whisper for a kidnapping by an unknown suspect.Grace Whitman, blonde female Caucasian, twenty-seven, last seen wearing khaki pants and a navy blue polo shirt.Abduction took place in the last ten to fifteen minutes.No description of a vehicle or suspect.Also, contact Detective Brad Lynch and have him respond.”
After the sergeant confirmed the information, Sean disconnected the phone and turned to find his uncle looking pale and terrified.It was exactly how Sean felt.“Go be with Bonnie.I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”
