With the hectic noises of the building being hushed by my office door, I take a seat at my desk. Opening the famous robin-egg blue box, I’m drawn in by the exquisite details of the engagement ring. After looking through what felt like thousands of options with Madison, the jeweler offered to create a unique piece for Isabella. Madison was thrilled to feel included in something so special, even though her only real contribution was that it needed to be “super sparkling!” She’ll be happy when she sees her request was taken seriously. The princess cut diamond is just about the sparkliest thing I’ve ever seen.

Waiting for this piece of art to be created has been painful. It’s taken nearly a month for the ring to be designed, but in the end the wait turned out to be a blessing. Originally, I was going to propose as soon as I possibly could. However, now that Isabella has told me about her mother trying to make amends, I’ve decided to wait. I’m going to propose to Isabella either way, but I’m a man who respects tradition. If Isabella’s father is on the same page as her mother about being in her life, then I can hold off for a bit if it means doing things right and asking for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

However, if he thinks he’s going to talk to her the way he did in the church again, then he better make it a good speech because it’ll be the last one we’ll be listening to. There’s no way I’m going to let someone undercut the woman I love and tear her heart out like he did, even if it’s her own father.

“Sir, I have Frank Adams on the line. He’s stressed that it’s urgent. Would you like me to put him through?” Rachel intrudes on my thoughts over my intercom.

I snap the lid shut on the jewelry box and slip it into my desk drawer.

“Yes, certainly.” I wait for the line to flash on my phone and pick it up, wondering what my lawyer wants.

“Colt? I’m glad I caught you.” Frank sounds frazzled, which is completely unlike him.

“Is everything all right?”

“Have you heard from the police yet?”

So, no, everything’s not all right.

“The police? About what? Is Madison okay?” My heart starts thumping blood to my ears as I begin to imagine the worst.

“No, no, I’m talking about Lisa. She’s gone missing. There’s been no sign of her at her group program and her parole officer says it looks like she split her apartment. Has she tried to contact you in anyway?”

“Missing? No, she hasn’t called. We haven’t spoken in months.”

“Called, texted, emailed? Christ, even if she’s sent you a smoke signal you’ve gotta get in touch with the Florida PD. Her checking out like this is a serious offense. It violates every term of her conditional sentencing. I mean, she’s really screwed that one up. No judge is going to keep her out of prison now. The jail diversion program was her one freebie and now she’s burned it up.”

I run my fingers over my temples, trying to think of what could’ve possibly possessed her to do something so stupid.

Possessed her.

The words send a chill down my spine as I recall her conversations about Satan and Moses. One thing is certain, if Lisa is missing, someone could get hurt. Most likely, Lisa.

“I haven’t heard from her at all. If I even catch a whisper, I’ll contact the police. I would guess she’s on some kind of bender. It wouldn’t surprise me if she rolls into her parole officer’s office with a hangover and a sob story in a few days.”

“Well, it better be one hell of a story because I’m pretty sure she’s just cinched her fate. She’ll be serving time now. The courts don’t take too kindly to having their good will thrown back in their faces,” Frank chirps matter-of-factly.

“Okay, well, thanks for getting ahold of me. Let me know when any new information surfaces, and I’ll do the same.”

“I’ll be sure to do that. Oh, and, Colt, just be cautious. From all accounts, Lisa is a very unstable woman and there’s no telling what she might do.”

I can’t disagree with him given there’s a YouTube video with over nine million hits proving his case. However, the only person I think Lisa is really in danger of harming is herself.

“Thank you, Frank. I’ll keep that in mind if she contacts me.” I hang up the phone and run my hand through my hair. Why would she throw away her second chance like that? It just doesn’t make any sense, but then again, not many things do make sense with Lisa. Sighing, a wave of exhaustion washes over me, beating against me like a tide pounding a rock into sand.

Why, Lisa? Why would you do something so stupid?