Page 30 of Believing in a Billionaire (Hearts and Holdings #7)

A second later, his posture stiffened, a shocked, frightened expression on his features as he stared at something, slowly raising his hands. His phone, clutched in one, dropped toward the ground before he nodded, lowering his hands and turning his back to the camera.

He strode off camera with the figure following him, hands shoved into their pockets.

A chill ran down her spine as she watched the last few frames.

Though the face remained hidden within the shadow’s hood, there was an unmistakable menace in the way it moved–too deliberate, too certain.

And Kyle, usually so confident, looked unmistakably rattled.

Julia’s heart sped as it ended. “Okay, that looks…scary. It looks like someone confronted him and made him go to the car. He was flustered enough to drop his phone. This is clear evidence that something happened to him.”

“I’ll admit I had a similar thought,” Alex answered.

“Hi, Alex, this is Alicia, I don’t know if you remember me but–”

“Detective Dynamo, I do remember you. Are you also sleuthing the case?”

“I’m helping Julia sort through this, yeah. This isn’t conclusive evidence, but it doesn’t sit right with me. Any other angles?”

“None that I can find,” Alex said.

Julia’s heart dropped at the words. They were stuck again.

“But,” Alex continued, “I’m digging a little further. I just need some time.”

Hope lifted in her at the words. “Oh, Alex, thank you. I’m so grateful for this. I’m really worried.”

“It does seem something nefarious may be afoot. Will you be up for a few hours?”

“Yes. I’ll wait up. If you find anything, please let me know right away.”

“Will do, Sunshine. Ace out.” The line clicked as he ended the call.

Julia leaned back in her pillows, her pulse pounding as she shook her head. “I don’t like this.”

“You’ve said,” Alicia retorted as she kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed with Julia. “Why don’t you try to get some sleep?”

“Because I don’t want to miss Alex’s call.”

“I’ll wait up for it,” Alicia said.

“Says the sister who kept phone calls from me by telling me my phone was fried.”

Alicia gave her an unimpressed stare. “I’m sorry about that, but I’m not going to keep this call from you. I’m curious, too. I want to know if Dr. Jekyll ran off to nurse his broken heart or if something happened.”

Julia settled in next to her sister, letting her eyes slide closed. Within minutes, she fell asleep, sheer exhaustion overcoming her.

The ringing phone awakened her. She glanced at the clock. One in the morning. Alicia slept next to her. She wondered if Grant was home or still at the office as she squinted at the display. Alex’s name glowed back.

Her heart leapt, adrenaline forcing her wider awake as she swiped to take the call, poking at her sister to wake her.

“Huh, what?” she asked, sleep in her voice.

“Alex? Anything?” Julia asked.

“Hey, kid. Nothing conclusive, but something to follow up on.”

“What is it? We’ll get on it.”

“Well, I snagged Little G’s license plate and ran it through the traffic cams in the Big Easy. Got a couple of hits. Nothing terribly telling until…”

“Yeah?” Julia asked, breathless.

“Until it showed up at a crossroads outside of the city, but then never again.”

“Maybe there are no cameras beyond that one if that was outside of the city,” Alicia said.

“He went straight through that light. Maps say there are no roads off of that one and no buildings, domestic or otherwise. The next light has a camera. Junior G-man’s car never shows.”

“So, he stopped somewhere between those two lights.”

“And it wasn’t to visit a friend,” Alex said. “That car disappeared on Silverwood Street somewhere between Fernwood and Sycamore.”

Julia’s heart leapt into her throat. “We’ll check it out.”

“I’ll keep digging around. Let me know what you find.”

The line clicked as Alex ended the call. Julia threw back the covers and leapt from the bed. “Let’s go.”

“Wait, Julia!” Alicia said.

“Wait for what? You heard him. The car disappeared somewhere. What if he was in an accident?” Julia grabbed her clothes and tugged off her pajama shirt, replacing it with a dark shirt. “Or worse.”

“Fine, fine. Okay. I’ll go.”

“I’m going, too!” Julia swapped her pajama pants for leggings before she pulled on shoes.

“Grant’s going to kill me.”

“Probably, but you don’t get a say. I’ll stick up for you.”

Alicia nodded as she held up a finger. “Just let me get my gun.”

She rushed from the room with Julia following close behind her. They navigated the dimly lit halls to Alicia’s room where she retrieved her weapon.

They returned to the hall, aiming for the foyer when a dark figure blocked them.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Sierra asked, tapping her high-heeled slipper on the floor as she crossed her arms over her silk robe.

“Move out of the way. We’re busy,” Alicia said.

“I don’t think so. You are not going anywhere. Especially not with my step-mommy. One more step, and I’m calling the cops.”

“Sierra,” Julia said with a shake of her head. “No time to talk. We have a lead on Kyle. We’re following up.”

Sierra arched an eyebrow. “Really? You’re sleuthing?”

“Yes,” Julia said with a nod.

Sierra’s eyes went wide. “I’m coming with you. I haven’t gotten a chance to sleuth yet.”

“You’re not coming. You’re an amateur.”

Sierra’s features turned red as she pressed her lips together. “Kyle’s gotten to go. Daddy’s gotten to go. When is it my turn?”

“Fine, fine, you can go. Just…hurry up and change,” Julia said.

Sierra squealed as she clapped her hands. “Be right back!”

She disappeared into her room as Alicia shook her head at Julia. “Why did you give in to her?”

“It’s easier. She’ll tattle on us. Plus…she wants to go. She’s excited. Let her be a part of it.”

Alicia rolled her eyes as she paced around the floor until Sierra returned in tight, black clothing with high-heeled, knee-high leather boots with her hair sleeked into a ponytail.

“What kind of getup is that?” Alicia asked.

“My sleuthing outfit. I bought it after Julia took Kyle on that stakeout in case I ever needed it. I’m so happy to use it.”

“Okay, let’s just go,” Julia said. “Alex said Kyle’s car disappeared somewhere between Fernwood and Sycamore on Silverwood. Hopefully, we’ll find it somewhere, and he’s okay.”

Sierra stomped her way along next to them.

Alicia shot her an annoyed glance. “I really hope we don’t have to sneak up on anyone.”

“I can be quiet if I need to be,” Sierra insisted as they stepped into the cool night air.

They made their way to the garage and climbed into one of the small SUVs. Alicia shifted her gun before climbing behind the wheel.

Sierra leaned forward from the back seat. “Is that a gun?”

“Yep,” Alicia answered.

“Can I have a gun?”

“Nope,” she said with a shake of her head as she fired the engine.

Sierra frowned, slamming herself into the supple leather.

“It’s okay, Sierra. I don’t have a gun either,” Julia said as they wound down the driveway.

The knot of worry twisted her stomach tighter and tighter as they approached the location. As they sat at the light where Kyle’s car had last been seen, Julia chewed her lower lip. Within the next half-mile, would they finally have answers? And would it be the ones they wanted?