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  Worried tones from the conversation downstairs drifted up. Guilt stung at her for not being down there. Her family was worried, too. They needed her to be there with them. But what she needed was to be alone and not watching the news to see if something went wrong.

  She sat on her bed and squeezed a stuffed bear she’d had for a long time. Not like it helped make anything better, but it did comfort her a little.

  Her phone buzzed on the headboard.

  Ari groaned. It couldn’t be important. If Damon or her dad was okay, nobody would call her. They’d call Mom, who would bang on her door once she realized she couldn’t barge in.

  It buzzed again.

  Reluctantly, she reached for it. A bunch of new texts.

  They were all from Emily. Must be lunch period at school.

  Emily: Where ru?

  Emily: Y aren’t u here?

  Emily: Yru ignoring me?

  Emily: Im starting 2 worry.

  Emily: Ari!!

  As she was reading them, a new one came in.

  Emily: Ru in the hospital? Talk 2 me!

  Ariana: Im home today.

  Emily: Sick?

  Ariana: Basically.

  Emily: Is it Damon?

  Ariana: Yes.

  Emily: Ru OK??

  Ariana: No. Need space.

  Emily: Sry. I h8 2 ask but…

  Ariana: What?

  Emily: Everyones asking abt ur party.

  Ariana: Ru serious? I don’t care!

  Emily: Maybe it’d b a good distraction.

  Ariana: Im turning off my phone.

  Emily: Wait!

  Ariana: What?

  Emily: Want me and Lola 2 plan it?

  Ariana: I dont care.

  Emily: Its 4u.

  Ariana: I cant think abt this now.

  Emily: U dont have 2. We got u.

  Ariana: Thx. Got 2 go.

  Emily: Talk soon.

  Ariana: OK.

  Emily: Luv u.

  She tossed the phone back on her headboard, pulled her pillow over her face, and screamed.

  Didn’t anyone have a clue what she was going through? Or did they just not care? Did her friends care about Damon at all? Did they even care about her?

  Her annual Halloween party was the last thing on her mind—and why wouldn’t it be? Yes, she’d been throwing the party as long as she could remember. Yes, she usually spent all year planning it, starting November first. But right now, it just didn’t matter.

  And on top of everything else, assuming Dad would walk out of the standoff in the daycare center, they would be in Nick and Genevieve’s wedding. Even if Ari wasn’t worried about her boyfriend and dad, she still had that to think about on top of school and everything else—like Mimi and Papi moving to Japan. They’d raised her since she was born, and now they were going to be gone for an unspecified length of time.

  Tears stung her eyes. It was all too much. How was she expected to deal with everything?

  Maybe for a normal person, being in a wedding and planning a Halloween party wouldn’t be too much. But nothing about her life was normal. And besides, the party was going to be bigger and more complicated this year. Usually it was at home with mostly kids from her grade. This time around, it was going to be in a rental hall and open to all the middle school and high school kids.

  And that had been her friends’ idea. Not hers. They should be the ones to plan it. It was no longer just her party—it had morphed into something much larger.

  Knock, knock!

  “I want to be alone!” She squeezed her eyes shut, tears spilling out.

  “Grandma and Grandpa are here.” Mom’s voice was quieter.

  “I still need to be alone.”

  “Will you come down and see them? I think it would help everyone if we could be together. We’re all worried.”

  She pictured Grandma and Grandpa huddled together in the living room, worried about their son. It broke her heart. They probably would take comfort from seeing her. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” Mom’s footsteps trailed away.

  Ariana sighed and sat up. As much as she wanted to have a pity party on her own, it wasn’t fair to anyone else. She wasn’t the only one suffering—even though that was how it felt. After a few deep breaths, she swung her legs to the floor and trudged over to her mirror. Ran the brush through her hair and put some balm on her cracked lips.

  Her chest tightened at the thought of going downstairs, but she ignored it. Pulled the dresser back to its spot and made her way to the living room.

  Grandma and Grandpa enveloped her in tearful embraces. She squeezed them back and said Dad would be okay, even though there was no way to see into the future. It just seemed like everyone wanted to hear hope affirmations, not an actual prediction.

  She settled onto the couch with Grandpa, who told stories of other times Dad had successfully faced off with psychopaths. Grandma headed into the kitchen, saying something about making everyone some tea.

  Grandpa wrapped his arms around her. “Any updates on Damon?”

  Tears stung. She shook her head. “Nothing.”

  “I’m really sorry, kiddo.” He pulled her close. “I can’t imagine how hard this is on you.”

  “Thanks.” Ari blinked, and a single tear slid down her face. “It’s not like it’s any easier on you.”

  He kissed the side of her head. “No, but you must feel like your entire world is falling apart. Mimi and Papi are moving away, your boyfriend is missing, and now this.”

  She drew in a deep breath and tried to respond. Instead, she dissolved into a fit of sobs.

  Grandpa held her close and rubbed her back, whispering comforting words she couldn’t make out over the sounds of her own crying. When she finally pulled away and rubbed her eyes, she saw tears running down his face.

  Mom and Grandma returned with four steaming cups.

  Before anyone could say anything, the newscaster announced they had an update from inside the daycare center.

  Chapter 13

  Nick flipped over the grilled cheese sandwich and checked the front door again. Genevieve was due back any minute from her latest dress fitting. She was bound to be as hungry as him, and though this was hardly an impressive meal, it was at least food.

  He cut the first sandwich in half and took a bite out of one slice. His stomach was rumbling, and he was hungry enough to eat three—he’d still be able to eat with her when she arrived. He found some tomato soup and poured that into a small pot. Now it was more like a meal.

  The front door slammed shut. “I’m home! Something smells good.”

  “I’m making lunch. Thought you’d be hungry.”

  She appeared and glanced at the half-eaten slice of grilled cheese. The corners of her mouth twitched. “You thought I’d be hungry?”

  He chuckled. “I’m famished, so I figured you’d be, as well.”

  Genevieve gave him a quick kiss then picked up the other half of the sandwich. “I am. Did the florist call?”

  “The house?”

  “No. I gave him your number when I was in the middle of the fitting.”

  “You can check my phone. I haven’t heard it ring.” Nick put the cooked sandwich onto a plate and added another to the pan before stirring the soup. “Did I miss the call?”

  “Nope. I’ll return his call when we’re done eating. Mind if I turn on the TV? I’d like to relax a little.”

  “Why would I mind?” He checked the food before grabbing them each a sparkling water from the fridge.

  She thanked him with another kiss as she flipped through the stations.

  Nick stepped toward the kitchen, but froze when Genevieve’s mouth gaped. He whipped his attention to the television, which showed a daycare center with police activity outside. It wasn’t far away, just a couple towns over.

  “What’s going on?” He went over to the stove to flip over the sandwich and lower the heat for the soup.

  “A
ccording to the ticker, a standoff. The building’s under lockdown with all the kids inside.”

  Nick’s mind immediately went to his kids. They were fine. Safe.

  Genevieve turned to him, her face pale. “You might want to see this.”

  His heart sank. “Is it the kids?”

  “No.” She hesitated. “Alex and Anderson are inside.”

  Nick dropped the spatula. It bounced from the counter to the floor. “What?”

  She had to be wrong. His best friend and former partner couldn’t be in there. Why would they be? Unless it was tied to the silver spoon case.

  Genevieve tossed the spatula into the sink. “Have a seat. I’ll finish this.”

  Suddenly, he had no appetite.

  “Sit,” she insisted.

  Nick closed his eyes for a moment and drew in a deep breath. “Let me finish lunch. We’re on vacation.”

  She cupped his face and pressed her lips on his. “They’re your friends, and they’re in the middle of a standoff with lots of preschoolers in danger. Take a seat.”

  He nodded and shuffled to the couch, his pulse drumming. Tried to take in what the newscaster said. Focused on the scrolling ticker. No shots fired. They were attempting to reach the suspect to negotiate.

  Anderson might be talking the man down inside. He was one of the best the force had.

  “I said to have a seat.” Genevieve appeared beside him with two plates in hand.

  Nick turned to her, dazed. “I thought I did.”

  She handed him a plate and set the other on the coffee table. “I’ll get the soups. Sit.”

  “Right.” He drew in a deep breath and sat, balancing the plate on his lap. Mindlessly took a bite from the grilled cheese.

  The news cut to a commercial for a dog bed and Genevieve reappeared, placing the bowls on the little table. “How are you doing?”

  Nick swallowed his food. “Concerned. I should be there. I’m the captain.”

  “The chief is there. I saw him. Looked like one of the other stations was interviewing him.”

  “Good.” He drew in a slow breath. “Thanks for finishing lunch.”

  She squeezed his hand. “You’d have done the same for me. Eat.”

  He broke off a piece of the sandwich then dipped it into the soup. Mindlessly ate until it was all gone. The news came back on but had nothing new to share. Just kept saying the same things over and over.

  “Want some more?” she asked.

  Nick shook his head. “I need to call in and find out what’s going on. They have to know more.”

  Genevieve rested a hand on his knee. “Want me to call?”

  He shook his head. “I need to do it. Could use some air, anyway.”

  “I understand.”

  Pressure built behind his temples and radiated around his skull. Couldn’t they ever get a break? No, of course not. He’d chosen the wrong career for that. But for the majority of his career things had been mellow. That was why he’d wanted to work for a smaller department. Well, that and the potential for moving up in the ranks as fast as he had.

  “Nick?”

  He put his plate on the table and rose. “I’ll be just outside.”

  “Let me know if you need anything.”

  “Okay.” He grabbed his phone, headed out, and took in a deep breath of the warm autumn air. It was the sweet aroma of the freshly fallen colorful leaves and some late blooming flowers. Exactly what he needed.

  Nick took a few more hearty breaths before unlocking his phone’s screen and finding the station’s number in his contacts. He leaned against his Mustang, his thumb hovering over the call button.

  Something underneath the car caught his attention.

  He stepped to the side and looked.

  Yellow and black fabric.

  Had he dropped something last time he got out of the car? He didn’t own anything that color. Maybe it belonged to one of the kids. It looked like a hoodie.

  Nick slid his phone into his jeans pocket, reached for the shirt, and held it up. It was his size, but he’d never seen it before. It wouldn’t fit any of the kids, not even Parker, who was inching closer to Nick’s height.

  He tossed it onto the hood and reached for his phone again. Then he noticed something underneath Genevieve’s car. His stomach knotted as he marched toward it.

  A brown leather jacket. Same size as the hoodie. Again, Nick had never seen it before. He looked over every inch of the outside. Then the inside. Something caught his attention near the lower seam. Something was embroidered. A name.

  Damon Jones.

  Nick nearly dropped the jacket. He raced over to his car and flipped the hoodie inside out. Damon’s name was embroidered in that, too.

  Everything spun around him. What was going on?

  Something black caught his attention on a pile of colorful leaves.

  Nick’s pulse drummed in his ears. His breathing grew shallow. He looked around.

  Nothing looked out of place.

  He stormed over to the dark clothing and studied it without touching it. Snapped a couple pictures. Noticed something else over near the tool shed. Black jeans.

  Nick swore under his breath. Took pictures of the pants. Noticed something else by another tree. Black shoes.

  He sent Genevieve a text.

  Nick: Did u notice clothes out here when u got home?

  Genevieve: No. What’s going on?

  Nick: Call the station.

  Genevieve: And tell them what?

  Nick: Found a clue abt Damon’s abduction.

  Genevieve: What??

  Nick: Call them.

  He took more pictures, ignoring new texts, and followed the trail of clothes until he reached the edge of the woods. Stopped and stared, looking for more clothes. Didn’t go in farther. Not without a weapon, without backup.

  His mind spun despite his best efforts to think clearly. Why would Damon’s clothes be on Nick’s property? Ariana’s boyfriend had been there only a few times, and always with the Mercers.

  Was he being held there? Had he been within reach all this time? Or were his abductors toying with him? The lady in red had first showed up in their woods, trying to lure Tinsley away. Now this.

  No way it was a coincidence. There were no coincidences. Especially not when Damon’s father was in prison for being part of a worldwide kidnapping ring.

  It was all a message.

  But what were they trying to say? And who were they exactly? Was it Cal, Damon’s dad? Or was all of this a message to him?

  There were too many unknowns. And the timing couldn’t have been worse.

  So close to the wedding that was going to take place on their property.

  Again, there was no way any of this was happenstance.

  What was the message? Or was this nothing more than a frame job? But why go after Nick? Cal’s intended target had always been Alex—not that Nick wished any more hardship on his friend. None of this made any sense.

  Sirens sounded beyond the woods.

  Relief washed through him. His colleagues would figure it out.

  Then another thought struck Nick.

  With Alex in the middle of a dire situation and Nick focused on the trail of clothes, was all of this a distraction?

  The more disturbing question was, what were the kidnappers trying to distract them from?

  Chapter 14

  Alex raced for the classroom door, not looking away from the scene inside.

  Teivel had his knife pressed against the little girl’s neck and was yelling profanities at the teacher cowering in a corner with several kids behind her. Then he turned and made eye contact with Alex. He rose to his feet, lifting the little girl and keeping the blade pressed against her skin.

  Alex reached for the knob.

  “Stop!” Teivel’s eyes narrowed and he held the girl out. “I’ll kill her!”

  Wails and screams sounded from inside the class.

  Alex froze in place, held up his hands.

&
nbsp; Teivel screamed for the teacher to shut the children up.

  Alex’s mind raced. There were more than a dozen preschoolers in the classroom, plus who knew how many in the other rooms. He glanced at Anderson.

  Anderson gave a slight nod before turning to Teivel and speaking loudly and slowly. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt—including you.”

  Teivel’s eyes were wild. He paced with the little girl, knife still pressed against her skin.

  Alex’s mouth went dry and his heart hammered so loud he could hear it. All he could think about were his own kids. The twins weren’t much younger than these children.

  Anderson continued after some silence passed. “Will you put the girl down and talk with us?”

  “Why?” Teivel glared at them, his face flushed. “So you can arrest me? Kill me?”

  “We want to talk with you.” Anderson raised two empty hands.

  Teivel’s brows drew together. He paced around the kids, toys, and the small furniture.

  Alex hated feeling so helpless. Despite being law enforcement and having weapons, they couldn’t do anything. One wrong move and the children could get hurt. Or he could hurt himself. And though at this point Alex didn’t really care about that, they needed to keep him alive.

  But he wasn’t even looking at them or talking.

  Alex exchanged a worried look with Anderson. There was so much he wanted to ask the experienced detective, but he probably didn’t have the answers, either. Anderson wasn’t a negotiator, but he had been through so much more than Alex, who felt every bit of his newness to the job.

  He took deep breaths and thought back to everything he’d learned in the academy. Everything Nick had taught him. All the things he’d learned from other men and women in the force. Surprisingly, the deep breaths helped. Slowly, his lessons learned came back to him.

  Anderson was speaking again. “We want to help you.”

  “Help me?” Teivel’s eyes were wild. “You want to arrest me! You think I killed my parents!”

  “Prove to us you didn’t. Show us that you can walk away from this. Answer our questions.”

  “I was framed!” He marched closer to the window, still clutching the terrified girl and the knife.

  “Then let us help you.”