Page 63

CHAPTER 63

O live waited for her phone to buzz. She wanted that message from whoever had abducted Mitzi.

It still hadn’t come.

In the meantime, she headed to meet Jason. He was still at Chelsea’s house and said they could stop by.

Jason and Chelsea were outside talking when they pulled up.

As soon as they stepped out of their vehicle, Jason squinted as if he knew something was wrong.

“Somebody has Mitzi,” Olive stated. “He’s supposed to text us directions, and we’re supposed to follow those directions if we want to see her alive again.”

“What?” Jason ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t like this, Ollie.”

“Neither do I. And we confronted Rebecca and Matt. They’re still denying everything. But I could have been certain when Rebecca told me I needed to stay out of this that there was fear in her eyes.”

Just then, her phone buzzed.

A message came in from Mitzi’s phone number.

Meet me at eleven.

Then an address appeared, followed by the instructions:

Come alone or she’ll die.

“What about the fundraiser?” Nova asked. “It starts at eleven. So should we just let it go on? Someone else is probably holding the money for Rebecca, so it’s not like she’ll get it at the start of the fundraiser or anything.”

“That’s a great point.” Anxiety thrummed through Olive. “Right now, Mitzi is more important than that fundraiser. I’ve got to tell Rex what’s going on.”

She stepped away from them and called her boss. He wasn’t happy with the news.

“You’ve got to go get her, Olive,” he said. “And you’ve got to be careful. I’d send someone down there to help, but there’s not enough time.”

“Jason’s here.” Olive wasn’t sure why she hadn’t wanted to tell her boss that earlier. But she hadn’t.

Rex was silent a moment before saying, “Is he?”

“He hasn’t distracted me from the investigation in case that’s what you’re thinking. In fact, he’s been a big help.”

“Utilize him if he’s willing,” Rex said. “Believe me, I’ve already looked into his background. He’s clean.”

Olive wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Then again, she wasn’t surprised. Rex was very thorough.

“Let me know how everything goes,” Rex said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get Mitzi back.”

“Me too,” Olive added.

She ended the call and glanced at her watch. She only had forty-five minutes until she needed to meet them, and the address that had been sent was a good thirty minutes away. She didn’t have much time.

She joined the group again, and their talking stopped as they turned to look at her.

“I have to get going,” she told them.

“I’m going with you.” Jason stepped closer.

“Me too,” Nova said.

“He told me to come alone. We can’t all three show up.” Plus, no matter how good Nova might be at cosplay, there were some situations that even playacting and lumpia couldn’t solve.

Nova frowned. “So what do you want to do?”

“I need you to stay here and keep researching, looking into those financials and those accounts where the money is being sent. I can’t help but feel like we’re going to find some answers there.”

“I can do that,” Nova said.

Olive turned to Jason. “And I’d like for you to come with me. I need you to stay close, but out of sight, just in case I need backup.”

He looked as if he wanted to argue, but then he nodded. “Okay.”

She took a step away from Chelsea. “We need to run. We don’t have much time.”

“Let me know what I can do,” Chelsea said. “I’ll be at the fundraiser. I can talk to the woman who’s organizing it if you want.”

“That’s a great idea,” Olive said. “You do that. Thank you.”

“Be careful,” Chelsea said.

“You too.”