Where was Anna? What had made her miss her breakfast plans? It wasn’t like her to disappear. A bright yellow taxi passed him and stopped outside the factory Yamaha team’s garages. Spencer jumped from the vehicle and ran up the stairs into his trailer to change. Late. He’d also missed the shuttle.
“I don’t know what else to do. I’m freaking out.”Catarina wasn’t the only one.
Pieces fell into place and Isaac’s blood ran cold. Spencer had something to do with Anna’s disappearance. Isaac would deal with him later, but in his panic, it was more important to find Anna. What if she was hurt?
He ran to the taxi, reaching it just before it left. “Can you take me back to the Ramada Hotel?” At the driver’s nod, he jumped in the back seat, still wearing his riding leathers. Isaac couldn’t sit still, so he fidgeted with his phone as the car headed for the quick trip on the highway. He checked the time. Shit. Just before nine. He was supposed to be on track any minute. He called Angel.
His crew chief answered the phone on the first ring. “Isaac, where’d you go? I leave for five minutes, and you’re gone.”
“Anna didn’t arrive on the second shuttle. I think something happened.”
“Isaac, where are you?” His boss sounded impatient.
“I’m in a cab, headed back to the hotel.”
At first, there was silence, then Angel cleared his throat. “I can cover for the first half of the session. I’ll say you are indisposed, but you need to get back, or you will forfeit your time for FP1.”
“I know.” Was his departure rash? Isaac was about to find out.
“No matter how you and that bike fly, if you miss the entire session, not only will there be questions, but you’ll be in Q1 tomorrow afternoon instead of Q2. You could start from the back of the grid and give yourself an insurmountable task for the race.”
“I know,” Isaac repeated. He’d worked so hard to put himself at the top of the standings this year with top-notch qualifying and consistent racing. Ordinarily, he’d never miss a crucial timed session. “Something is wrong. I’ll get back if I can, but Anna comes first.” He hung up and stared out the window, willing the car to go faster. His chest tightened for the rest of the five-minute drive, the feeling of dread growing.
His phone buzzed with a new message from Catarina.
“She doesn’t answer in your room. Still nothing.”
“I’m on my way. Cab should be there in two minutes.”
He leaned forward. “Excuse me, can you drive any faster? It’s an emergency.”
He tapped his phone to pay as soon as the car stopped. Catarina met him at the curb as he flung open the door and hopped out.
She didn’t greet him or waste words. “The first thing I thought of when I couldn’t find her and she didn’t answer, was Spencer.” Her voice shook, and she blinked back tears. “That’s why I stayed and kept searching.”
Isaac had never seen his friend so upset.
“Thank you. Spencer is at the track. He came late.” It was difficult to speak in full sentences with his fear barely contained.
“The hotel won’t tell me his room number. I tried. What if he’s done something and locked her in there?”
“We’ll find her. Tell me what happened. From the beginning.” He projected confidence he didn’t feel. Panic would solve nothing.
“I was running late,” said Catarina with a shuddering breath. “And texted that I’d be down at 8:25.”
“Did she reply?” It would help to pinpoint when she’d disappeared.
Catarina shook her head. “One of the other girls said she saw her by the door of the restaurant at about 8:15, but Anna didn’t stay.”
That was about the time his shuttle had left. “How about the hotel staff?”
Isaac struggled to keep his voice calm. That was almost an hour ago. His Anna could be upset or hurt. He needed to find her.
“Nothing. Maybe Spencer found her alone in the lobby,” said Catarina.
Isaac shook his head. “Too public. He’s been careful never to be seen with her.” It helped that Catarina was aware of the entireproblem with Spencer. Isaac paused, trying to recreate what had happened in his mind. “She left the restaurant. Maybe she went back up to our room to get her phone, and he found her before she answered your first text.”
“I’m so sorry I was late.” Tears slid down Catarina’s cheeks.
