Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
My hand trembled as I walked into the house and looked for the remote. “What news?”
“Turn on Channel 7,” she said.
I flipped through the channels and saw a photo of Ryland and Alex Burton plastered across the screen, along with a scrolling headline beneath.
Alex Burton and Ryland Bennett strike business partnership
What does this mean for the future of technology?
Rivals unite as one…
“No,” I whispered. “That isn’t right. Ryland would never make a deal with him.”
“That’s the same thing I thought,” Nicole murmured. “Something weird is going on.”
“I haven’t heard from him since he left this morning,” I croaked. “I’m really scared, Nicole.”
“I’m sure he’s just in flight, Brighton,” Nicole tried to reassure me. “He probably wanted to get back home to you as soon as possible.”
I accepted her words because I needed to believe them. But in my gut, I knew it wasn’t true. Ryland always texted me before his flight.
“Hey, look,” Nicole said. “Why don’t I grab some cupcakes and come over so we can work on the nursery until he gets home?”
“Okay,” I agreed.
I didn’t want to admit how much I needed her there. My nerves were completely shot, and I was grateful for the distraction.
“I’ll be there in an hour,” she said. “Just sit down and relax until I get there.”
Five o’ clock came and went. Then six, and seven, and nine. It was now eleven at night, and there was still no word from Ryland. Nicole and I had worked on the nursery and gorged on cupcakes and takeout. But I couldn’t hold back my fears any longer.
“I have to call the police,” I said. “There’s something wrong, Nicole. I can feel it.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “I think you’re right, Brighton. Maybe they can track his phone or something.”
The police arrived an hour later. The officer that showed up didn’t seem all that invested in Ryland’s whereabouts and even went as far to suggest he was probably just drunk in a bar somewhere.
I told him that wasn’t Ryland. That he never did anything like this. I told him about his meeting with Robert Burton and Alex’s threat from the charity gala months before. The officer jotted everything down on his notepad and explained the procedures. It hadn’t been long enough to officially declare him missing, but given who he was and the previous threat, they were going to look into it.
And then they just left me there. Alone and without my husband.
***
Three days had come and gone.
I was going out of my fucking mind. I couldn’t stop crying, and I couldn’t keep anything down. Matt, Nicole, Norma, and Ted all kept silent vigil in the living room, waiting for any shred of news.
Ryland had officially been declared missing. The police hadn’t told me anything, but they’d come and torn the house apart searching for clues. I’d been questioned a thousand times, things I didn’t even know. And I hated myself for not knowing more about Ryland’s company. Why didn’t I know these things? I should have known these things. I was supposed to be helping him, and I couldn’t even answer their questions.
I’d sent Mick to look for him, and he didn’t protest. He said Ryland could be pissed whenever he came back, but right now, he was his top priority. I was grateful and spent every waking second thinking of something else I could do. Something else that I’d missed.
I even tried to contact Alex Burton. I left him several hate filled messages, but he wouldn’t return my calls. All of the light that filled my life was suddenly turning bleak. My heart grew weak in my chest, and I felt like I wouldn’t be able to go on. I couldn’t lose him. There was just no way. We were meant to be together. It couldn’t end this way.
There was a knock at the door, and Norma got up to answer it while Nicole tried to get me to drink some water. Another detective came into the room, one I didn’t recognize.
“Brighton Bennett?” he asked.
“That’s me.” I stood up on shaky legs. “Do you have any news?”
“I’m going to need you to come with me,” he said.
Matt was at my side a moment later, glaring at the man and his tone of voice. “What’s this about?” he demanded.
“We have some questions for Mrs. Bennett,” the detective answered.
“You’ve already asked her questions,” Matt said. “Repeatedly. She doesn’t need to go anywhere. This is her home, and as you can see, she’s very pregnant.”
The detective didn’t seem to care. “She doesn’t have a choice at this point.”
“It’s okay, Matt,” I said. “I want to help. I’ll do whatever they ask.”
“I’m coming with you,” he stated.
Nicole gave me a quick hug and smoothed down my hair. “I’ll stay by the phone in case anyone calls,” she said. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything at all, okay?”