Page 24

24

Raven

I hit the tarmac in California just before midnight, barely letting the wheels stop turning before I jumped from the plane. My duffel was slung over my shoulder, boots pounding the asphalt as I made for the waiting black SUV Sean had sent.

Cyclone’s message burned in my head:

Bee’s not safe.

By the time I reached the firehouse, adrenaline was pulsing through every vein. The place was dark—too dark for a working station. Only the security light above the garage doors cast a dull yellow haze.

I didn’t wait. I slammed the door open and stepped inside.

“Beatrice!” I called out, my voice echoing down the hallway.

Nothing.

Silence.

I moved through the rooms quickly—the bunk area, main office, and back hall—and there was no sign of her. There were no notes. No gear was missing. Just a cold, unsettling emptiness.

Her locker was open.

I stepped closer. Inside, her turnout gear was still hanging. Boots on the floor. Her helmet. Her radio. All of it here.

But her jacket—the one she always kept to wear off-duty—was gone, as was her phone charger.

She left in a hurry.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Cyclone.

“She’s not here.”

“What do you mean she’s not there?” His voice snapped to attention.

“I mean, she’s gone. Her locker’s open. Looks like she left fast. But she didn’t take her gear. Her radio is here. The place is just empty.”

Cyclone swore under his breath. “That’s not good. Maybe she’s with her brothers?”

“She’s either hiding,” I said darkly, “or someone made her disappear. I know Beatrice would answer her phone if she were able to.”

I looked at the security camera above the door. The red light blinked, but it was just for show—non-functional. Someone turned it off.

Convenient.

I walked out into the cool night air, scanning the street, my gut twisting tighter by the second.

My phone rang, it was Troy, and he told me that Beatrice was missing. My heart leapt into my throat. “What the fuck do you mean she’s missing? How long has she been missing?”

She’s been missing for two days, the police are looking for her, and we have had search parties hunting for her. I don’t understand where she can be. We are so scared. We’re on our way back to the station now.”

“She’s either hiding,” I said darkly, “or someone made her disappear.”

“Who was the last person to see her? Why the fuck am I just now hearing this? Why didn’t you call me before now?” I shouted. I turned and saw a light on in the upstairs office. I walked toward that light as Troy talked.

“We were on duty. We thought she was home. We’ve been so busy with these fires that we had no idea she wasn’t here until Kelley called and asked if Beatrice was going to pick up Mike. Katherine was the last person to see her. They went somewhere together. The police talked to her. Katherine said she dropped her off at home two hours after she picked her up.

When I walked back into the station, and saw Katherine sitting at her desk, seemingly unaware of anything, my blood ran hot. “Why didn’t you answer when I shouted if anyone was here?”

She looked up, her smile tight and automatic. “Raven. I’m sorry I didn’t hear you. You’re back. It would seem your little girlfriend has taken off, and the town is going crazy hunting for her.”

I didn’t return the smile. “Where’s Beatrice?”

Her expression didn’t change. “I told Dan, Troy, and the police—I dropped her off at home two hours after I picked her up. I dropped her off at the entrance, and she just walked through the gate. Said she wasn’t feeling good and wanted to go home right away, and—”

“Cut the crap.” My voice echoed in the quiet office. I slammed my hand down on her desk. “Beatrice never made it home. She’s been missing for over thirty hours. Her phone’s off, her car hasn’t left her garage, and you were the last one seen with her.”

Katherine’s eyes narrowed, just barely. “I already told you what happened. I dropped her off at home. She said she might go shopping.

“Funny. Because her injury made it damn near impossible to drive. And the route you supposedly took? No traffic cameras picked her up. But you—” I stepped closer. “You were seen driving back alone.”

Her smile faltered, just a flicker.

“You think I did something to her?” she asked, her voice just a little too calm. “That’s what this is? You came here to blame me for Beatrice running off to have a little fun on her own.”

“I don’t think anything,” I said. “I know Beatrice. She wouldn’t disappear without a word. She wouldn’t leave her brothers panicking. She sure as hell wouldn’t vanish after going out with you, someone she didn’t even trust .”

Her lips twitched. “So what are you saying, Raven? That I hurt her? That I dragged her up to Croft Ridge and… what? Killed her and buried her?”

I didn’t blink. “I think something happened out there. And I think you know exactly what it was.”

Silence stretched.

She stood slowly, folding her arms. “You know, Raven… I always admired you. The soldier. The protector. So loyal.” She stepped around her desk. “But sometimes, you put your faith in the wrong people.”

“I would never put my faith in you.”

That got a reaction. A flash of something—anger, maybe. Or fear.

“You don’t have proof,” she said, voice low now. “You have suspicion. And gut instinct. That won’t hold up when you try to drag my name through the mud.”

“You think I care about proof ?” I growled. “If she dies out there—if anything happens to her—you won’t have to worry about paperwork or lawyers. You’ll be praying I turn you over to the cops after I’m finished with you.”

For the first time, I saw it. The tiniest flicker of panic in her eyes.

I leaned in close. “Tell me where she is, Katherine. Now.”

Her jaw clenched. “I told you—I don’t know.”

And just like that, her mask slipped back on. Cold, and controlled.

But it was too late.

I’d seen it.

Katherine stormed out of the office five minutes later. Didn’t say a word.

I watched her go, my fists still clenched at my sides.

I stormed into the back room, where Dan and Troy had just gotten back from looking for their sister. They looked like neither had slept.

I glanced at her brothers. “She knows,” I said.

They stood there, silent.

“She knows,” I repeated, turning to them. “And we’re running out of time.”

“We’re putting together a search team,” I said. “Now.”

Troy grabbed his keys. “We have been searching. Where do you want to start?”

“Croft Ridge. Katherine let that name slip out. I think she took her there. I hope she left her stranded there and did nothing else. If she dumped Beatrice anywhere, it’s in that area.”

Dan nodded. “I’ll get the maps and see what’s up there. We’ll need volunteers—strong ones. People who won’t ask questions.”

“I’ll handle that,” I said. “I want quiet. No cops. No media. If Katherine gets wind we’re onto her, she’ll bolt. And we need her to believe she still has time.”

* * *

An hour later, the back lot was filled with vehicles and familiar faces—firefighters, off-duty military friends, even two retired search-and-rescue guys who owed me favors.

Everyone fell quiet when I joined them.

“This isn’t official,” I said. “There’s no missing person bulletin. No formal orders. But Beatrice is gone. And we believe she was taken somewhere near Croft Ridge by someone she trusted not to harm her.”

No one asked who. They didn’t need to. They all knew who it was. They all believed Katherine did something to Beatrice.

“She’s injured. She’s alone. But if anyone can survive this long, it’s her. We move fast, we move quietly, and we bring her home .”

They nodded.

I distributed maps, assigned zones, set radio frequencies, and ensured that everyone had a med kit and a rope.

“This mountain is dense. I need eyes in the trees, on the slopes, and in every crevice. If you see something—footprints, blood, clothing—you call it in. Don’t assume it’s nothing.”

Dan, Troy, and I would sweep the area around the abandoned building that Katherine mentioned.

I turned back to the group. “Let’s go.”