Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
She shakes her head with a sad look on her face. “No, he’s still missing.”
I nod and walk out without another word. All I can think about is that I knew something wasn’t right at Colby’s home. I should have done more to help him. I’ve tried and tried to get him to talk to me, but he never did. I should have found a way.
I’m almost to my car when the police car pulls into the lot and comes to a stop next to me. Baker gets out, and I can’t help it, the emotions rolling through me are so overwhelming I burst into tears.
He comes to me and wraps his arms around me. “Oh baby, it’s okay. We’re going to find him.”
But even with his reassurance, I can’t stop crying.
He’s rubbing my back, saying soothing words in my ear, but I can’t stop. I finally pull myself together when he says, “Baby, Colby needs you right now. I hate to see you upset. Please, trust me. We’ll find him.”
I suck in a sob and try to catch my breath. I’ve soaked Baker’s shirt with my tears, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He gathers my hair in his hands and pulls it off my shoulders, letting it fall down my back. “Talk to me. Why didn’t you call me?”
I search his eyes and shrug. “I don’t know.”
He’s not having it, though. “Cass, why didn’t you call me?”
But I still don’t answer him. He’s frustrated, and I don’t blame him. He blows out a breath and puts his arm around me as he walks me to his squad car. “Come on.”
I stop before getting in. “Do you want me to follow you in my car?”
He shakes his head. “No, I want you to get in my car. I need to go find Colby, but I can’t leave you when you’re upset like this. Come on, you might know where he is.”
I point to myself. “I might know? I don’t have a clue. Have you talked to his mother?”
He sighs. “His mother was found passed out in her front yard. She almost od’d. She’s been admitted to the hospital.”
I gasp and bring my hand up to my mouth. “Oh no! Do you think Colby knows?”
He shrugs. “I’m not sure, but it’s possible that she was strung out this morning before he went to school. Maybe something happened. We don’t know for sure. I’ve called his uncle. He was in Jasper about to get on a plane but he’s back in town and is searching for Colby too.”
He sets me in his car, and instead of shutting the door, he squats next to me. “Think about it. You know Colby. What does he like to do?”
I wrack my brain trying to think of everything I know about Colby. “He loves to draw.”
“We’ll check the new art store in town.”
I nod, thinking what a good idea that is. “He likes to read.”
“The library. There’s a hundred places he can hide in the library. What else?”
I try to think about it and lift my shoulders. I don’t know if this is a good clue or not, but I’m willing to try anything. “This summer I met Chloe at the park to run the track there, and I saw Colby hanging out at the swings. I didn’t know him then, but I noticed him because he was by himself, watching the ground as the swing swayed back and forth.”
He claps me on the shoulder. “Good, good. We’ll hit the art store, then the library, and if we still haven’t found him, we’ll go to the park. Good job, Cassie.”
He kisses me, puts the seatbelt around me, and snaps it before closing my door.
I watch as he walks around to the driver’s side of the car. Again, Baker has shown up for me when I needed him. I’m a fool if I don’t start putting some faith in him.
CHAPTER 16
BAKER
I’m not sure how it’s possible, but it is.
I’m fuming mad but I also want to hold her and make sure she’s okay. Seeing her cry and break down the way she did had me wanting to throttle someone.
I can’t handle her being upset, and the only thing I can think is I need to fix it.
I don’t know why she didn’t call me.
She gave herself to me, but she’s still holding back, and I plan to find out why, but first I need to find the kid.
I drive across town, and she stays in the car as I run into the art store. I show the salesclerk Colby’s picture on my phone, and she shakes her head. She allows me to search the store, and when he’s nowhere to be found, I go back out to Cassie in the squad car.
We drive to the library next. “Come on. This place is huge. You can help me look.”