Asher nods once, sharp and grim. “That’s what Ithought.” He doesn’t soften the blow of his words. He knows I wouldn’t want him to. I need to know the truth.
A pulse beats hard in my ears. “She didn’t go willingly.”
So much for being no fucking threat. The man hit me. He stole her. He’s taken everything I care about.
The room goes silent. Even Romy’s sobs quiet into soft gulping breaths.
Asher drags a hand over his jaw. “Okay, so we pulled the surrounding footage. He must’ve taken her out the back. There’s no clean angle of him, but we caught a shadow and movement behind your apartment a few minutes before you called.”
Fear tightens my chest. “Jesus.” But at least I wasn’t out for too long. He couldn’t have gotten too far away with her.
My fingers dig into the armrests. I can feel my pulse in my skull, hammering against the bruised bone.
“I just don’t know how he got through,” Asher mutters, shaking his head. “I have this place covered. Everybody who came in and out has been accounted for.” He looks as sick as I feel. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” I tell him, my voice thick. “It’s mine.” I should have known. Should have seen him. Somebody with better vision would have.
For a second he says nothing. Then he goes back to the laptop, barking orders through his phone to the guys who are still outside.
“Coast Guard’s checking the shoreline,” Hudson says to me.” They’re alerting every boat owner on the east side.”
“And Jesse’s locked down the ferry,” West adds. “Nobody is leaving this island until we find her.”
I blink. “What about the guests?” There’ll be a line of cars trying to leave the island in about an hour.
“Autumn and Parker are telling the band to keep playing.They’re bringing out another case of champagne,” Francie says to me. “Don’t worry, nobody will be complaining about staying a little longer.”
There’s a knock on the door, the one that leads to the parking lot. Asher pulls it open, and stands back to let Brad, his second in command, walk through.
“You got any updates?” Asher asks him. I look over, hoping to hell they’ve found her.
“We’ve finished reviewing the footage for the last twenty-four hours,” Brad tells him. “I’m airdropping it to you.” He hits something on his phone, then Asher’s laptop lights up. Grainy footage appears on the screen. I’m too far away, and my eyes are too messed up to make out what it is, but Asher and Brad are mesmerized by it.
“Fuck,” Asher says. “This is from this morning.”
“Yep,” Brad agrees.
“He got here early,” Asher murmurs, leaning closer to the screen. “Six forty-five. That’s before security was doubled for the gala.”
“He hijacked a flower delivery van,” Brad confirms. “Plates are legit, but the driver isn’t. We ran facial recognition. It’s Darien.”
A sick weight settles in my gut. “He’s been here on Liberty all day?” I ask. Has he been watching her? Waiting for the right moment? How did he know she’d be in my apartment?
Brad nods. “We’re guessing he stashed the flowers, changed clothes, and waited. Kept out of camera range until nightfall. It wouldn’t be that hard to find out where Sadie’s been staying.”
My fingers clench against the armrest. “This is stupid. The guy’s inept, you said that.” I look at Asher.
He looks as sick as I feel. “I know. I guess maybe helearned a few things in prison. Or just got lucky.” He clears his throat.
“He used someone else’s ID,” Brad tells us. “A catering temp from the mainland didn’t show up today. Darien has the badge.”
“So where is he now?” I ask. “He couldn’t have gotten far. Not if we’ve closed the ferry down.”
“Unless he’s got a boat,” Hudson mutters.
Brad glances between us. “We tracked the van. It left the hotel thirty minutes ago.”
“With Sadie?” I ask him.
