He kept in good shape for a reason—so he could help those in need. He loved working at the distillery with his brothers, but he loved his search and rescue work even more. It gave him a sense of purpose. One he needed after his military life.
“Let me clear my head. I’ll call Lucky’s service and see if they know why she didn’t show on my way out.”
Lincoln’s eyes filled with concern. “Let me know what you find out. She didn’t seem like the kind of person who’d blow someone off.”
“She isn’t. That’s what concerns me.” He headed out of Lincoln’s office and to his car. He’d already packed all his gear this morning, knowing at some point he’d get tired of spreadsheets and distribution questions. He preferred the outdoors. He’d spent the past weekend helping a buddy fromSAR paint the inside of the house he’d just bought with his new wife. They’d seemed so happy and in love and ready to start the next chapter of their life together and expand their family.
Maybe that’s why he was thinking so much about Lucky and the note he’d left her last week. At the time, it felt right. But then he started second-guessing himself about how much he’d revealed by being so open and honest.
What if he’d crossed a line, and this was her way of letting him know he’d gone too far?
He slid into his car and connected his phone to the Bluetooth. “Call Happy Helpers Cleaning Service.”
The phone rang twice before a woman answered. “Happy Helpers. How can I assist you?”
“I’m trying to get in touch with Lucky. She was supposed to clean my place yesterday but never showed up.”
“Oh no. Is this Mr. Gunn?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry. I was supposed to call you.”
“Is she sick?” He really hoped that’s all it was, even though his gut was telling him something was wrong based on how the woman’s voice filled with concern.
“Um. No. I don’t think so. I really don’t know. No one has been able to get ahold of her. As far as I can tell, she’s been missing for a couple of days.”
His stomach tightened with dread. “Did you call the police?”
“Yes, but they said we had to wait forty-eight hours. Adults are allowed to take off without telling anyone if they want to.” That last part sounded like a quote from whoever she talked to at the police department. “We have to wait until tomorrow to file an official report.”
“Okay, well, I know she was at Gunn Brothers Saturday night with a friend. My brother talked to her while she was there.”
“Yes. We know. Her friend Desiree told us they’d gone out. Apparently Lucky had too much to drink and Desiree took her home, though I was surprised to hear that.”
“Why?”
“Because Lucky’s not really a drinker. She doesn’t like to take anything that will alter her ability to think clearly. Not even an antihistamine when her allergies are bad, probably because of what happened to her family.”
“What happened to them?” He had a vague memory about her parents dying years ago.
“They were all drugged and murdered by her boyfriend.”
Holy fuck!
“Has someone been by her place?”
“All of us have checked everywhere we could think of to find her. Strange thing is, her car is at her place.”
That did send up a huge red flag. If she wasn’t there, that meant someone took her somewhere most likely. Otherwise, why wouldn’t she drive herself?
He had to ask the hard question. “Is she seeing anyone now? Someone who’d know where she is, or be with her?”
“No. She doesn’t date, though we’ve all tried to coax her to take a chance. But after what happened…”
Yeah, she probably didn’t trust men.
“Okay. Well, would you ask her to call me when she shows up?”Ifshe showed up. He didn’t want to think that, but his gut just kept nudging him that something was terribly wrong. “I’d really like to know that she’s all right.”
