CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“WOLF CALLED.” MARK says coming into my room just as I finish tying a trinity not in my tie. “We finally know that Luke was a dead end.”
“Why are we finding this out two and a half years later? Shouldn’t we be more resourceful?” I ask my voice edging on frustration.
“As we have told you in the past, this entire thing was very thought out. Whoever this guy is has really been giving us the run around.”
My annoyed gaze moves from his reflection to the deep green tie around my neck. My heart skips as her eyes flash in my mind. Since my talk with Brandon, not only do I carry her ring with me, I have started wearing something, anything that reminds me of her. It’s helped ease the pain I feel when I need it most.
“This is unacceptable Mark.” I finally say shifting my attention.
“I understand, sir.”
A growl rumbles low in my throat. “I want her found Mark. Why aren’t we finding this information out sooner? I’m tired of the excuses. I know we are close. The death threat that turned up at the office yesterday proves that. Everyday we don’t know something is another day wasted.”
Twisting around, I snatch my black suit jacket off the chair and march past him into the living room. I can smell bacon and eggs wafting from the kitchen. My jaw clenches as my stomach churns. Martha has started making food before asking so I’ll eat. Her feeble attempts have only pissed me off.
“Sir, I am pushing them. It’s hard to control things being so far away.”
I spin around and face him head on. “And whose fault is that?” I bite out. “I wanted to stay in California. I told you I didn’t want to leave. You insisted. Now look at us! I have a staff that suddenly thinks it’s okay to argue with me. Information that I can’t get a hold of. And she’s been missing for two years! All I seem to get out of you is an excuse as to why we haven’t found her. That is until I have gone off enough that you finally give in.”
Marks eyes widen and takes a stumbling step back, as if my words physically cut him. I have never seen him stunned into silence before. Shit. Heaving a sigh, I walk up to him placing my hand on his arm. “I’m sorry Mark. I know you are doing the best you can. It’s hard being on the outside of this just waiting for you to tell me we found her. Half the time, I don’t even feel alive.”
“We’re close sir. I haven’t been as supportive to you over the last couple years as I should have been, but I have never stopped the search. I see your pain. I wish I could make it go away. Wish I could stop the people pushing you to forget about her and move on.” His gaze slides to Martha, then settles back on me. “It pains me to see you like this, and for so long. These last years have been hard.”
“Breakfast is ready.” Martha calls breaking the awkward silence between Mark and me.
Turning around, I pick up my jacket from the chair I tossed it on in anger. “Give it to Dwayne.” I tell her as I head to the elevator. I hear Marks hastened footsteps behind me. He makes it next to me just before the doors close to the elevator.
“How do they know we are getting close to finding her?” I ask as Mark and I ride down to the car.
“I’m not sure, sir. I have started looking into staff to see if we have a leak, but as far as security goes were good. I was going to ask you if you would mind me looking into Martha.”
“Why Martha?”
The doors open to the garage where Mark and I are faced with my vandalized Aventador. Mark’s gun is drawn before I even notice he’s walking slowly to the car. His gaze alert and sweeping the area. I follow him toward the car. Glass crunching under my feet. The word thief carved into all surfaces.
“Stay back, sir.” Mark says holding out his arm to stop me from getting any closer. “I’ll have this taken care of. For now, let’s get you to work.”
As the memory of Autumn and I on the hood of the car flashes, I curse under my breath. Nearly everything I have reminds me of her and I. Each time a memory surfaces, it’s like a dagger to the heart.
“Mark, these people know far to much about me. Have you looked into Christopher yet?”
His furious eyes glance over to me before I realize he’s on the phone. “Get another one. Today.” Pocketing his phone he stays silent and directs me to the BMW, stopping me just in front to check the car. A few minutes later, he opens the back allowing me to get in.
“Where are we on Christopher?”
“He disappeared shortly after your encounter. Just falls off the face of the earth. No credit cards, bank accounts, nothing.” Mark says nothing else from that moment on. Just speeds us through traffic to get me to work just before my meeting at nine.
“Good morning, sir.” Vee says standing as I enter the office. “Your nine rescheduled to later today. However, I have a man named Wolf on hold for you.”
I look back at Mark who seems as surprised as I am. “Fine, I’ll take it in my office.”
“Very good, sir.”
Mark follows me into the office locking the door behind us. I make a b-line straight for the phone on my desk and press speaker to put Wolf on.
“Is this line secure?” Mark asks before I get a chance to say anything.
“Yes.”
“Good.” Mark motions for me to take over then slides his hands in his pocket.
“What do you have for us Wolf?” I shrug out of my jacket. Mark takes it and lays it across the back of the chair near him.
Wolf clears his throat and releases a long breath. “I think I may have found her. I’m having a bit of trouble getting past some security issues. I have put a call into your friend Mr. Hamilton for help.”
He may have found her? My veins pulse with growing anticipation. The burst of energy surging through me suddenly makes my heart race erratically.
“It’s a bit early to tell you, but I have a good feeling about this.”
“That’s great news, Wolf. Keep us informed on your progress.” I say trying to hold back the overwhelming hope consuming my insides.
“Wolf, we have another problem.” Mark says jumping in.
“I need you to take another look into Christopher Hamilton. Dig deeper. Don’t leave one stone unturned.”
“I heard about the car. Dwayne called a few minutes before I called you. I will definitely look into him further. If you don’t mind me asking Brandon for help on that matter as well, I think he could be a good asset.”
“I would prefer you leave him out of that. However, if you believe it will help then fine.” The last thing I want is to burden Brandon with more pain over the rift with his son. I could hear the sadness in his voice.
“As a last resort then.”
“Also, did we find out who the leak is?” Mark adds stepping closer to the desk.
“Not yet. But it has to be someone that knows you well. I would say it was probably the phones being tapped, but since most of them were changed or now on a secure line. I doubt it. Did you want me to look into someone?”
“No, I’ll take care of it.” Mark says, his husky voice firm. “I was just checking with you first. You just focus on seeing this promising lead through.”
“Will do.”
The call disconnects. Silence comes over the room. I swear I can hear both Mark and my heart beats. “He found her.” The words flow from my mouth in a hushed whisper.
“No, he said he may have found her. Please, sir. Don’t get your hopes up quite yet.” I can see the corners of his mouth twitch up. He’s excited too. “Martha?”
“Do it. If the phones aren’t tapped, then she is the only one that is close to me. She also has been the most pushy about dating and moving on.”
Mark nods, the twitching turning into a scowl. “You know you will need to—”
“I’m aware. Just find out first.”
After Mark leaves ,I’m left with competing feelings of doubt and joy. Martha has been with me for a few years now. She’s pleasant. Cooks well. Cleans up, and shows up on time. She came highly recommended. I’m not sure if I will be crushed or relieved when I hear the news. But the hopeful promise that she’s been found sings in my veins.