Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
The entire family met up at Aiden’s place at midnight, dejected and somewhat panicking. Nobody had found any sign of Violet on either side of the pass. Yara was beside herself at home.
“We need to call the police,” I said as Donna and Tessa raided my freezer for prepped meals to cook for everyone.
Uncle Buddy nodded. “I agree.”
I took a deep breath and dialed Pierce’s direct number.
“Pierce,” he mumbled sleepily.
I winced. “Hi, it’s Anna.”
Bedclothes rustled. “What’s up?” He sounded more alert now.
I took a deep breath. “I should’ve called the station but wanted you on this. Violet disappeared. The girl my aunt and uncle are moving to adopt? She just took off.”
Pierce cleared his throat. “How old is she?”
“Sixteen,” I said.
“When?”
I gulped. “About five hours ago.”
“Is there any sign she was kidnapped?”
“No. She left a note saying she was sorry.”
Pierce sighed. “We have a possible runaway? Did the note hint at suicidal intent?”
The idea hadn’t even occurred to me. “No. I mean, I don’t think so.” Tears instantly filtered into my eyes. “We don’t know why she took off, Pierce. We have no idea.”
“All right.” More movement sounded across the line. “I’ll call in a BOLO and head into the office. Text me a current picture of her and meet me there, okay?” He sounded gentler than normal, as if he understood that my mental state was rapidly sliding into pure panic.
“Okay. A lot of people searched tonight, but we have no idea where else to look,” I said in a rush.
He sighed. “You were a teenager once, I assume. Where would you go?”
I would’ve gone to one of my aunt’s or uncle’s homes, but we already searched everywhere familiar for Violet. “You’re right. Let me talk to Aunt Yara again and see if anything comes to mind. Then I’ll meet you at the station to fill out any paperwork.” This would mess with the adoption proceedings, but right now, getting Violet home safely was all that mattered.
Pierce clicked off.
Nick scrubbed a hand through his hair. “He’s a decent guy when he’s not trying to put me in prison.”
“Ditto,” Aiden said dryly.
I called Aunt Yara.
“Hello? Did you find her?” Yara asked, her normally calm voice rising.
“No,” I said. “I need you to think hard right now. Violet has lived with you for weeks. If you were her, where would you go if you were scared and wanted to be hidden and safe for a while?”
Quiet ticked over the line. “I’d go to your place.”
I looked around. Violet was nowhere near us right now. I hadn’t looked at my office downtown, but the doors were locked and very secure with the new system Aiden had made sure was in place. “All right. If not there, where?”
Yara sighed. “I don’t know, Anna. But I think you’ve made her feel safe from the beginning, so where would you go?”
I’d go to Aiden’s or my parents’ house. We’d already checked both places.
Aiden drove to the police station as I settled back in the seat and tried to ease the ache in my shoulder. We’d quickly changed the bandage, and I’d taken some ibuprofen. Hopefully, that would kick in soon. My knee was better, so at least there was that, but I couldn’t stop worrying about Violet. It was a cold night, and I wasn’t sure she had found somewhere warm to sleep.
We reached the station and walked up to Pierce’s office. He sat in ratty jeans and a torn T-shirt, obviously having rolled out of bed to meet with us.
“Thank you for coming in on this,” I said. “I didn’t know who else to call.”
“Happy to help,” he said, even his dark-blond hair looking tired. “Go through everything for me again, will you? I’ve already put out a BOLO for her.”
“What about an Amber Alert?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No. We only put those out when a kid is taken or if we believe they’re in imminent danger. For teenage runaways, unless we fear for their lives, we put out BOLOs.”
This was my first missing teenager, so I hadn’t been sure. I ran him through the entire night and added that she had been nervous about the upcoming hearing.
“She was having fun tonight,” Aiden said. “Something happened between the time she ran to the restroom and left. I don’t know what, but there was an intervening cause in this.”
“Okay,” Pierce said. “Give me a list of everybody you know who was at the game.”
Aiden reached into his back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “This is everybody I saw and knew.”
I looked over. It was smart of him to have created the list. He had descriptions more than names. “You saw all of these people?”
“I’m trained to see all of that.” He slung an arm over my shoulders.
Very good point. I, however, was not. Still, I recited all the people I knew, which wasn’t that many.