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“Are you sure it wasn’t from Bella’s phone?”
Sharlee passed the phone back to Shandra. “Nope. It isn’t, and I’d venture a guess that someone piggybacked the internet link.”
Ryker shook his head. “I don’t know about these things, but shouldn’t that mean we need to get over to her apartment?”
Sharlee shook her head. “Won’t help. You don’t have to be in their living room to do it.”
Ryker looked at Sharlee. “Maybe you should explore where it came from. Because who would know Bella was Oakley’s friend and use those names from different phones? It’s too odd.”
“Happens all the time,” said Sharlee, her face hidden from Shandra. Her facial expression belied her words.
Ryker played along. “Okay, you’re the expert.” Who the fuck had his baby girl, and who the hell did he have to maim and destroy to get her back?
With all the things they could gather that might help them find her in hand, they headed to the security offices with one more mystery added to the mountain.
Chapter 7
“It doesn’t make sense,” Ryker said, shaking his head. “Why wouldn’t she tell me? We were supposed to be exclusive now. Building a future.”
“Maybe she didn’t want to worry you,” Callie suggested. “Or maybe she wanted to test your commitment to her.”
“Either way, it doesn’t add up,” Ryker insisted, his gray eyes narrowing with determination. “Oakley wouldn’t just leave without telling me. And what about this new client? It sounds odd that they disagreed so quickly, don’t you think? There’s too much that doesn’t fit.”
“True,” Jac agreed, rubbing his hands together for warmth. “But we can’t ignore what her best friend or someone else says. We should at least look into it. Might be a lead or a taunt which is a lead all by itself.”
“Fine,” Ryker conceded, his jaw tight with frustration. “But I’m not giving up on the possibility of foul play. Oakley means everything to me, and I won’t stop until I know she’s safe.”
“Understood,” said Kaden. “We’re all here for you, Ryker. We’ll find her.”
Mark stood and said, “Think it’s time you and I took a little trip to Bella’s to clear some of this up.”
Bella was nowhere to be found. She had taken the week off from work. It was beginning to look like she had met up with Oakley.
“Something isn’t right.”
“Agreed,” said Jac.