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“Of course. Beer and Chinese food are a perfect combination.”

“Okay. Keep that one then,” he said, turning back to the fridge to get another one. He served me from the cardboard containers, and we clinked our bottles together. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Howler.”

“How could I not after a fabulous blowjob and a treat of Mandarin cuisine?” I said, nudging his shoulder.

After we’d finished and he’d cleaned up the leftovers, we sat on the sofa and watched a movie. He fiddled with the remote, going through the Netflix menu. It was a toss-up between a spy thriller and a rom-com. We went with the spy thriller, but I secretly wanted the rom-com, considering I was snuggled up next to the sexiest man I knew.

Jonesy’s phone buzzed just as he was about to start it. “It’s Sean. I’d better take this,” he said, getting up from the sofa. A moment of silence followed as he paced, eyes wide. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. He stopped and finally said, “Shit. I’ll be right there.” He turned to me, dropping his hand, the phone still in it, shock and rage overtaking his expression. A look that signaled trouble, and what he said next proved it.

“Another beauty contestant has gone missing.”

37

JONESY

My heart pounded at the news Sean relayed over the phone, and a wave of nausea hit my gut. There was no way another woman could have been taken, not with the level of security and safeguards we had in place. Craig could only stare at me. It couldn’t be happening. Another beauty contestant had gone missing.

I had to go. Craig understood, said he’d be fine, and told me he’d stay up and wait for me. I made him promise not to if it got too late. I gave him a quick kiss, grabbed my keys, and hurried to my car. The drive was a blur. How could this have happened? When was the last time she’d been seen? Where had she been before she went missing? As soon as I hung up, I knew I had to head to the hotel and remain focused. Calling in or waiting to be updated wouldn’t work for me.

I parked back where the surveillance van was. Showing up without my undercover look was risky, and I knew I couldn’t just wander around the hotel searching for answers. No one was in the van when I pounded on the back door, so I called Sean and told him where to meet me. Within five minutes, he appeared, trying to catch his breath.

“Did you run?” I asked once he got to me.

“Yeah…pretty much,” he wheezed.

“I’ll blow my cover if I go in there and start looking around. It’s still early enough that the other makeup and hair stylists could be around. Tell me what you know.”

Sean caught his breath and pulled out his notepad. “From what I was told, most of the interviews had concluded around seven o’clock. The ladies were to begin rehearsals for the opening number at seven-thirty. There are thirty-eight contestants vying for the title, but only thirty-seven showed up for their check-in.”

“Have you talked to Lieutenant Anderson?”

“Yes. He was the one who informed me.”

“I assume a search is underway. Do they know which contestant is missing?”

Sean looked down at his notepad. “Uh, it’s a Lindsey Thomas. She’s Miss Stockton,” he replied.

“Fuck me!” I barked. “You know who she is, Sean. She was the blonde whose makeup I touched up yesterday. You thought she was a knockout.”

“Holy shit. That’s right. She’s on the minicam footage I recorded from your pin when you did her makeup.”

“Think about it. She’s blonde with blue eyes, just like Gretchen. They seem to be collecting specific types. Where’s Anderson now?” I asked.

“He’s with the pageant officials.”

Figuring Anderson was beating himself up, I wanted to talk to him instead of communicating over the comms. “I need to speak with him, but I need to stay out of sight so my cover won’t be compromised. See if you can get him to meet me back here.

Sean sprinted into the hotel, and I took the opportunity to call my FBI contact, who’d been assigned to work with us. That would save me time, since I wouldn't have to go through Captain Davis first. I was pleased to know his team was already on it and part of the ongoing hotel search.

Sean returned with Anderson, who gave me a look. “We fucked up.” I assured him it was on all of us, but we were going to find her.

“Where was the last place she was seen?” I asked Anderson.

“The last people to see her were the pageant officials who interviewed her in one of the conference rooms. They said she was in good spirits when she left, planned to change, and then go to the scheduled rehearsal.”

“Have you checked her room?”

“Yes, first thing. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary,” he replied.