Page 25 of The Worst Best Man

The cop sighed, swearing under his breath. He yanked a whistle out of his pocket and blew it furiously as he ran into the fray.

Frustrated, she turned and found Aiden standing much too close to her. He didn’t say a word, but his face did the talking for him.

“Yeah, yeah. You told me so. I get it.”

“They’re not going to take a disappearance seriously for at least twenty-four hours.”

“Fine, smarty pants. What do we do now? We lost the van. We have no idea where he could be or what they want with him or even who they are.”

Aiden’s phone rang and he fished it out of his pocket. “Unknown number,” he read from the screen.

“Maybe it has something to do with Chip,” Frankie said, eyes full of hope and dread.

“Kilbourn,” he answered. Frankie snatched the phone away from him and hit the speaker button.

A garbled voice on the other end of the call chuckled. “Well, well, Aiden. It looks like we have some business to do after all.”

“Who is this?” he demanded.

“That’s not important. What is important is the fact that we have a mutual acquaintance.”

“Where’s Chip? Why did you take him?”

The voice laughed. “I’m going to fuck him up when I meet him,” Frankie hissed.

“Patience. All will be revealed.”

“Who does he think he is? A Bond villain?” Frankie demanded.

Aiden rolled his eyes and mouthed the words “Shut up.”

“If you hurt him or so much as mess up his hair, I will hunt you down,” Aiden promised.

“Then let’s not let it come to that,” the robotic voice on the other end said amicably. “What I want is easily within your grasp of giving. You give me what I want, I give you your friend back, and we all go home happy.”

“What is it you want?” Aiden asked.

“I want you to be ready for a meeting tomorrow. I’ll contact you with the time and place.”

“A meeting?” Aiden repeated.

“It’s just business. Nothing personal. Oh, and don’t tell anyone. No cops, no security. Just you, me, and Chip.”

The call disconnected and Aiden swore.

“Christ. Now what the hell do we do?” Frankie asked. “They make contact and give us nothing? Why didn’t they ask for money?”

“Because they don’t want money,” Aiden said quietly.

Frankie stopped in her tracks. “It’s you isn’t it? This isn’t about Chip at all. They called you because you have what they want.”

Aiden wouldn’t meet her gaze.

Chapter Eleven

“Great. Just fucking great. You do something stupid or illegal or whatever, and innocent people have to pay the price. My best friend’s wedding is ruined, her fiancé is missing, and now we have to wait until tomorrow to find out who has him and what they want?”

Frankie ticked off the infractions on her fingers. And Aiden rubbed a hand over his forehead. He’d feel guilty if necessary later. Right now, he needed answers.