CHAPTER FIVE
“WHAT? THAT’S NOT possible!” Mark shouts, jolting me awake. My gaze snapping to him pacing the room just as he rakes his fingers through his dusty blond hair. “This is unacceptable. Find her!”
My heart rate spikes, throwing it into an hurried unrhythmic pattern. Bolting off the bed, I head toward him. His gaze catches mine, a mix of fury and fear filling his eyes and face. “What happened?” I finally manage to ask.
He takes a breath, his mouth setting in a firm line. “She was moved, and we have no idea where.”
“What?” I knew something was wrong. I should have never left.
“I’m sorry, sir. The surveillance team arrived too late. They are working to find out when and where she was moved. I have a feeling it was right after we left.”
I glance at the Versace watch she gave me, noticing it’s just after seven. “Why are we just now finding out about this?”
“The team was trying to track her down before getting back to me. I’ve taken the liberty in firing the idiot that made that call.”
“Take me back. I want to see for myself that she’s been moved. Maybe the team messed up.” I know that isn’t true. I knew something wasn’t right earlier, but I have to see for myself. I swing my coat on and look over the room once, making sure nothing was left behind. Seconds later, Mark and I are bolting out the door.
My heart races raising my body temperature all the way to the hospital. The moment Mark pulls to a stop under the awning, I’m out of the car. The two nurses from last night are still here. The blonde lifts her head, flushing the moment she sees me, before I glare back turning that flush into fear. The two officers are no longer standing guard, so I shove my way through the swinging doors. My pace quickens as I make my way toward her room.
A small group of younger men dressed in suits stand outside her door. They must be Mark’s team. Taking a deep breath, I march past them and into her room. A man stands questioning Dr. Morris by her empty bed. My skin prickles. Clenching my jaw, I march up and grab Dr. Morris by the lapels of his jacket. “Where is she?”
That smile he hid twice finally breaks. “You’re not family. I can’t tell you.”
I slam him hard against the wall. “I’m her only family! Where the fuck did you move her to?”
“Sir!” Mark’s voice echos through the room urging me to stop.
“Where?” I shout slamming him again.
He laughs, his mouth breaking into a crooked grin. But it’s his eyes that push me over the edge. Pure satisfaction and hatred fill their dark void. Without thinking, my fist pulls back then connects with his face within seconds. The sounds of bone cracking and blood splattering fills the room.
Dr. Morris laughs and spits a mouth full of blood at my feet. “You will never find her. You arrogant son of a bitch.”
I’m about to wipe that grin off his face when Mark locks his arms around mine from behind, forcing me to drop Morris. “Sir, stop. He’s not worth it.” Mark says jerking me back.
I shove him off me and yank on my jacket forcing it back into place. I watch as Dr. Morris wipes his face free of blood. His hard eyes meet mine stirring something dark deep inside me. “Take care of him.” I tell the man who was talking to Morris earlier. He nods but stay’s silent turning his attention back to Morris.
Mark follows me out of the room, and doesn’t say a word until we walk out of the hospital. “What do you want to do, sir?”
“Get Wolf on the phone.” I continue walking past the car toward the grass. I hold my hand out when Mark starts to follow me. I don’t want anyone around right now. He stops at the car, I can feel his gaze on my back.
The moment I feel out of sight, I collapse to my knees. Hunching over, I gasp trying to fill my tightening chest with air. Why did I leave her? I lost everything I had last night. My world crumbling to ash just as the house did. What am I supposed to do now? I know she’s out there. What if she remembers and I’m not there, what will they do? My mind races with a million thoughts from her managing to find me to her no longer living. The last thought churns my stomach enough forcing me to vomit.
“Sir.” Mark calls, his rough voice carrying. As his heavy steps approach, I reign in the swirling darkness starting to consume me, and force myself to stand. Meeting Mark halfway, he stops and hands me the phone. “Sir, are you all right?”
I take a breath, aware of how shaky my legs are, and give him a pat on the arm. He eyes me warily a moment before continuing. “I have Wolf for you.”
“Good. Thank you Mark.” I take the phone and force myself to focus on what steps to take next. There is no way in hell I’m leaving her out there all alone. I don’t care if it takes the rest of my life to find her. Mark hands me a water bottle. Grateful, I take a swig swirling it around my mouth then spit it out.
Clearing my throat, I head back to the car, Mark taking the lead. “Wolf.”
“Kage, what’s going on?” Wolf says, his husky deep voice filled with apprehension. “It’s been a while.”
“Yes, I apologize my friend. But we have a problem.”
“No shit. Mark gave me the run down. What the hell is going on?”
“There is something else going on here. I need your help figuring out what it is, and I need your help finding her.” I tell him as I get into the car.
“They wouldn’t tell you where they transferred her too? Get her papers.”
“Mark,” he stops just before closing the door and looks at me. “Ask for her transfer papers. Leaving the door open he quickly heads into the hospital.”
“Kage, tell me what happened.” Wolf urges.
I don’t even know where to start. “There was an incident last night at her family house. Everything, everythings gone.”
“We’ll find her, Kage. I’ll—”
“Hang on.” I tell Wolf as Mark marches back to me, a scowl planted firmly on his face. “Wolf, I’m putting you on speaker.”
Mark shuts my door without a word, making my stomach lurch. He gets behind the driver’s seat shortly after slamming his own door. “There are no papers.”
“What do you mean there’s no papers?” Wold calls through the speaker.
The car roars to life, then speeds away from the hospital. “She wasn’t transferred, at least not on record. Someone just moved her. Dr. Morris was paid off.”
“Who paid him off?” I snarl.
“He hasn’t said yet.” Mark says.
“Kage,” Wolf says through an uncomfortable silence. “We need to check out everyone that was working last night. It would have had to be one of them, but just incase, Mark we need surveillance tapes as well.”
“Thank you Wolf. I’ll be here as long as possible.”
“Get those things to me as soon as possible. If you need to go back to work go. I’ll be your eyes and ears here.”
“I appreciate that. I won’t go back until I have to though. I made the mistake of leaving her last night. I won’t do it again unless I have to.” A hole forms in my chest. An emptiness I won’t be able to fill until she’s found.
“Understood. I will get started on what I can.”
The call disconnects and I turn my attention to Mark. “We need to keep her and her family’s name out of the papers and media.”
“Yes, sir. Already working on it. It’s going to be—”
“Take care of it. Cost isn’t a factor.” I interrupt.
“Where to, sir?” Mark asks risking a glance at me in the rearview mirror.
“Hotel. I don’t want to leave until I have no choice.” He glances at me again then back at the road. The lines of his face are drawn and serious. I know he’s just as upset as I am. She means everything to me.