“We can’t find Nana,” she cried.
“What? Where’s Papa?”
“He’s talking to the police. Nana took Frisco for a walk, but they were gone a lot longer than usual. When we went out to look for them, we found Frisco, but we can’t find her.”
“You stay with Papa and do what the police say. I’m on my way.”
“I’m scared, Mom,” she said quietly.
“I know, baby. Stay with Papa for right now. I’ll call you back once I’m in the car.”
“Okay,” she sniffled.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
When I ended the call, I realized the music had been turned off, and everyone in the room was watching me. Ink had moved closer to my side and placed his large hand on my back. “What happened?”
“My mom is missing,” I told him and swallowed thickly. “I have to go.”
“I’ll drive you,” Ink said. “You’re upset, and so is Ariel. You can talk to her while I drive.”
“They’re not close.”
“I don’t care,” he said.
I didn’t have the time or energy to argue. “Deal. Let’s go.”
When I saw Phoenix approaching, I thought for sure he was going to stop us, and I really didn’t want to bulldoze their president to get to my daughter, but I would. Thankfully, he fell into step with Ink and talked while we walked. “Where are your parents?”
“Crestview Nature Park and Campground.”
“Can we join you and help search for your mother?” he asked.
My steps faltered, but Ink caught my arm and steadied me before I hit the ground. “Yes,” I said as tears filled my eyes. “We’ll take all the help we can get.”
He smiled kindly. “We have a couple of dogs that are scent-trained. We’ll get them loaded up and be right behind you. What’s your mom’s name?”
“Thank you,” I croaked and cleared my throat. “Her name is Alice Calloway.”
He nodded in acknowledgment and jogged back to the clubhouse while Ink guided me to an SUV I didn’t recognize. As we were getting in, I heard a man shout, “Wait!” I turned to see Dice and Daphne running toward us with their dog, Diablo, beside them.
Dice opened one of the back doors, and the three of them hopped in and took their seats in record time. “Let’s roll,” Dice said.
Ink hit the gas and peeled out of the forecourt with a spray of dirt and squealing tires. I wiped the tears from my face and turned in my seat. “Thank you for coming.”
“You don’t know it yet, but these two,” Daphne said and gestured to Ink and Dice, “are a package deal. Where one goes, the other goes.” Then she patted Diablo’s head. “And this onehas been scent-training, so he might be able to help better than any of us.”
I couldn’t help it. The tears started flowing again. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me. That you all are willing to drop whatever you were doing and help look for a woman you don’t even know. Especially the president of your club.”
“Phoenix’s oldest son and his now wife were lost in the mountains many years ago. The kindness of strangers saved both of them. So, if there’s any way he can be the kind stranger for someone else, he’s going to do it,” Ink said and squeezed my hand. “Call Ariel back. Tell her the cavalry’s coming.”
With shaking hands, I tapped my phone and called my daughter.
“Mom, are you on your way?” she sniffled.
“Yes, and I’m bringing some friends with me to help.”
