“She ran from me, Carlos.” I turn to face him and yell, “Me!”
Carlos shuts the door, stepping into the room, shards of glass crunching under his shoes.
“She ran from us all, Alex. Don’t read more into it. Anna told you she runs whenever there is conflict or yelling. Everyone was a little heated at that moment. “
He moves closer to the bar cart, pouring two whiskeys, and comes to stand by me, handing me a glass as I look into the fireplace, watching the flames dance against the brick wall.
“She will come home tomorrow. She’ll call Anna and we will pickher up, bring her here safe and sound before we have to fly out.” He takes a sip of his whisky, staring into the flames.
I can’t just sit here drinking and waiting. Fuck this.
"Take a seat." I point to a chair and walk around my desk, sliding into mine, and pull up my emails to print.
“I have to show you what Sebastian uncovered today.”
For the next half hour, I fill him in on the bouncing IP addresses and the funds Roberts has been syphoning off the company for years. Carlos isn’t surprised, given the fact that Roberts is a scumbag.
With business taken care of, and the fact that all we can do is sit here and wait. I tell Carlos to go home; I'll call if I hear anything, and I'll see him in the morning when he picks me up to follow Anna to see if Isabella reaches out to her.
Once the door closes, I pick up the phone and call Sasha.
“Where are you?” I bark.
“Outside the bookstore in my car. It’s been closed for a couple of hours. No one is coming or going down this alley. There was no sign of her, sir.”
“Fine. Head back here. I need you to wait here in case she comes back. I have to head out for a few hours.”
Hanging up, I snag my keys from my desk drawer; put on my leather jacket. Squatting down on the floor to open my safe I take out the small black box Sebastian gave me years ago and the bound leather pouch. I close it and head out through the kitchen, opening the back door to the garage.
I press the key fob and the tail light blinks. I get in, start the car press the garage door opener, and back the car out.
I’ll get her myself because I have a small hunch. I know exactly where she’s hiding from me.
I drive downtown and find the back alley behind the bookstore.It is pitch black, save for one flickering street lamp. I shut the car off and put it in park, turning off the headlights. I settle in and wait in the dark.
There are four windows at the back of the building. I keep darting my eyes back and forth between them, watching and waiting for any sign of movement or light.
Sure enough, one light comes on in the window closest to the back alley. Nothing passes by the window as I watch for movement. I sit and stare at that window for almost three hours till the light flickers off. I look at the clock in the car; it’s 11:45.
I’ll give her 20 more minutes, then I’ll break into that store and take her ass home.
Assuming it is her in that room.
I tap my finger on the steering wheel, watching the numbers tick away.
Finally, I get out and approach the door to the bookstore. I cup my hands to the glass window and look in. A red blinking light flashes in the dark, and there is a security panel on the wall, but I brought Sebastian’s little toy with me, so that will not be an issue.
You underestimated me, little bunny.
I take the picks out of my jacket pocket, unwrap the leather casing, and work my magic till I hear the telltale click and the lock give way. The bells above me chime, and I grab them quickly. I move swiftly, take the small black box out of my pocket and hold it to the alarm. The red dots quickly scan back and forth, and then it lights up green.
Step one, little bunny. Now to find you.
Slowly walking down the small aisles, I check both ways, row by row. I am looking for a door, a cupboard, or anything that would indicate access to the back of the store.
When I reach the last row, there’s a door off to the left side.
I turn the doorknob and open the door. It is a stockroom, full of boxes and books, and carts full of more books. I move inside, closing the door quietly, sliding carts around in the tiny room, looking for any hidden doors.
