Page 39

She was momentarily stunned.This is really happening…First, it was her brother, and now her daughter was going to leave her. No, she couldn’t think that way.Never give up!“Thanks. Brice is working with me, and we traced her phone to Key Bridge. We’re in Georgetown Waterfront Park now and have found her device. He’s calling in the K-9 unit, just in case…” Her mind betrayed her, skipping into the darkness. There was no way she could finish that sentence with what it had conjured.
“Dear God.”
“Yeah.”
“Sandra!” Eric was running toward her, and she worked to bridge the distance. One of Olivia’s favorite shirts was draped over his arm.
“Who’s that?” Elwood asked.
“Detective Birch, Metro PD.” There was no need to disclose she was seeing him.
“So they’ve been pulled into this before you even bothered to come to me?”
“Not like that, boss.”
“I’d ask what it’s like, but considering you’re going through a tough time right now, I’ll let it go.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you get the area locked down then?” Elwood asked.
“It’s in the works.” She planned to ask Eric to make this happen.
“I’m going to bring in more agents on this, Vos. We can’t ignore the possibility of larger things at play here. The daughter of a federal agent has been taken.”
Indistinct, separate… as if she isn’t mine.She’d store that away to pull up to help her step back, detach, and gain some objectivity. “Do whatever you can. I need to find her.”
“Will do, and keep me in the loop, as I will you.”
“Okay. Thanks.” She ended the call, and took the shirt from Eric. She buried her fingers into the fabric and sniffed the collar. Olivia’s Viva La Juicy perfume filled her nose with its sweet and fruity scent. “Thank you for bringing this. K-9’s being called as we speak.” She glanced over at Brice, who was on the phone.
“How are you holding up?”
“As well as can be expected.” She turned at the sound of footsteps behind her. “Eric Birch, this is Brice Sutton, a colleague from the WFO. Brice, Eric is a detective with the Metro PD.”
The men regarded each other, arms starting to extend for a handshake, but both settled for a head bob. It was odd circumstances to be meeting under.
“K-9’s on their way,” he told Sandra, but then turned to Eric. “I don’t mean to sound like a prick, but why are you here?”
Eric flicked his gaze at Sandra, who subtly shook her head. She didn’t really want him to know about their relationship. “I caught wind that a young woman is missing. As Sandra just told you, I’m a police detective.”
She breathed easier knowing Eric picked up on her unspoken message.
“Uh-huh, who just happens to arrive with her daughter’s shirt?” Brice’s gaze fell to the one now in Sandra’s hands.
“Nothing gets past you. We’re… I’m not sure exactly what we are.” Eric smirked, passed a mischievous look at Sandra. It was a devilish one that revealed his rebellious streak.
“Bed buddies?” Brice said.
Eric laughed. “I guess you could say that.”
Sandra had wished to be somewhere else before. This strange interaction intensified the feeling. “Okay, if you two are finished. Olivia.”
“We’ll find her.” Eric put an arm around her. He took the shirt and the phone from her and handed them over to Brice. “I trust you can handle all of this and get the shirt to the K-9 handlers once they arrive?”
“Sure.” Brice took them and walked a few feet away to give them space.
“You can’t say the guy doesn’t read the room or pick up on subtle cues,” Eric said to her.