by M. S. Parker
When I could finally breathe normally again, he moved away so that he wasn’t touching me anymore. I almost asked him to move back. While I was done freaking out, having him nearby was...nice.
But there was one person I wanted more than him.
“I need to call my sister.”
This time, he nodded in agreement. “That’s probably a good idea.”
He leaned forward and picked up something I hadn’t seen before. He held it out and I recognized my purse. I took it and resisted the urge to look through it to make sure everything was there. Cross didn’t need to steal anything from me. Juliette had told me that Cross was rich. Like lighting cigars with hundred dollar bills rich. Not that he did that. Or maybe he did, I didn’t know. I didn’t know him.
I needed my sister.
I pulled out my phone and hit her number. Cross stood and walked back to the window. I felt a surge of gratitude for the relative privacy. He could’ve stepped out of the room to make certain he didn’t hear anything, but I didn’t want him to leave completely. He’d kept me safe.
Unless...
Even as the phone rang, I remembered taking the bottle of water from him. Could he had been the one who’d drugged me?
For a brief moment, panic went through me, but then I reminded myself that Cross hadn’t hurt me. And he’d been the one to suggest a blood test just now. If he’d wanted to play savior after drugging me, he wouldn’t have needed to make the suggestion.
Still, I’d feel better once I talked to Juliette.
“Hello?”
“Juliette, am I glad to–”
“It’s Emmalyn.”
I stopped, mid-sentence, and changed what I was saying. “Why do you have Juliette’s phone?”
“I’m at the apartment, and it was sitting on the counter. Is she with you?”
An icy hand closed around my heart. “What are you talking about?”
Emmalyn gave an exasperated sigh. “I had some things that needed Juliette’s signature, so I came here. I have an emergency key. Juliette isn’t here, but her phone was on the counter. You called, so I figured I’d waste less time asking you where she was. Except I just wasted a lot of time having to explain all of this to you.”
I ignored her attitude. “Juliette’s not with me. She went...we were at a club last night.”
“Well, I’ll leave the papers here and lock up. Let her know she has to bring them to work tomorrow. And you might want to come home because she probably forgot her keys too. Her purse is on the counter.”
The call ended and I lowered the phone, staring at the screen.
“What’s wrong?” Cross was near me again, but not touching me. He reached for me, but pulled his hand back.
“Juliette’s assistant answered her phone,” I said slowly. “Juliette’s not at the apartment. But she didn’t go home last night. She went to a hotel with a guy.”
“Did she have her phone with her then?”
I nodded.
“Which means she went back to the apartment after the hotel,” he said.
I looked up at him, the fear that rushed through me making my hands shake. “But she’s not there. Her purse and her phone are on the counter, but she’s not in the apartment.”
Where was my sister?
Cross reached out and wrapped his hands around mine, warming my fingers. “We’ll find her.”
“You think someone drugged me.” A sensation of horror filled me. “What if they did the same thing to her? What if that guy she went with did something to her?”
He tightened his grip on my hands, and I fell silent.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” he said. “I’m going to call the hotel to see if your sister and that guy are still there. You’re going to call the police.”
I nodded.
He raised our hands to his mouth and kissed my fingers. “We will find her, Hanna. I promise you that.”
I didn’t know him.
But I believed him.
I called information to get the number for the police station while Cross called the hotels closest to the club. I knew that most hotels wouldn’t give out the names of their guests, but something about Cross told me that he wouldn’t take no for an answer, and it had little to do with his money. He seemed like the sort of man who always got what he wanted.
I didn’t listen to his conversations though. I had my own phone call to make.
I spoke to an Officer Carter, and managed to keep my voice calm and reasonable as I explained that I was concerned for my sister. Officer Carter was equally calm when she explained that they couldn’t declare Juliette missing yet.
“Why not?” I asked, practically shouting the words. “Her purse, keys and phone are in her apartment, but she isn’t there.”
“I understand that, miss.” Officer Carter almost sounded bored, like she’d had this conversation a hundred times before. “But your sister is an adult of sound mind, correct?”
“Yes, but–”
She cut me off. “And there’s no evidence of foul play, correct?”
“I don’t know.” I was starting to get annoyed. “I’m not at her apartment.”
“Unless there is clear evidence of foul play, an adult of sound mind can’t be declared missing just because she didn’t call.”
I gritted my teeth and tried not to curse at her. “So what am I supposed to do?”
A sigh came over the phone, as if my question was requiring some sort of big sacrifice on her part. “I’d recommend going over to her apartment with your keys, if you have them. She’s probably locked herself out and can’t get ahold of you. If she’s not there, speak to her friends, boyfriend–”
“She doesn’t have a boyfriend,” I snapped.
Even as I said it, I thought about Sam, the man Juliette had been with last night. Was it possible that Juliette had gone back to the apartment to change her clothes before she and Sam went out together? Maybe to breakfast? I shook my head even as the thought was crossing my mind. She would’ve called to make sure I was okay once she’d seen I wasn’t in the apartment like I should have been.
“I’m new to the city,” I said suddenly, interrupting whatever the officer had been saying. “She wouldn’t have just left without telling me.”
“Maybe she would’ve if she thought you were...occupied where you were.”
The insinuation made me bristle. “Excuse me?”
“No need to get riled up, miss.”
I wasn’t sure if the slight slip into a Southern accent was mocking my own, or if the woman was actually from the south. I didn’t care either way. I was focused more on the fact that she wasn’t helping me.
“I want to come in and file an official missing person’s report,” I said.
Another sigh. “That’s your prerogative, but chances are, your sister will show up before you’re done with the paperwork.”
My temper was starting to rise, and I was tired and worried enough that I couldn’t completely keep it down. “Isn’t your job supposed to be helping people, not turning them away?”
“I think you need to calm down, miss.”
I felt my jaw drop. Had she seriously just told me to calm down?
“I’d like to speak with your supervisor,” I said through clenched teeth.
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Officer Carter replied evenly.
“Hanna.”
A quiet voice said my name before I could respond. I looked up to see Cross standing over me, his face blank. His eyes, however, were a storm of emotion. He was holding out his hand and, after a moment, I realized that he wanted my phone.
I handed it over without a word. While I’d always tried to be smart about things, I’d also learned the value of listening to my gut. And, right now, instinct was telling me to trust Cross to get things done.
“This is Cross Phillips.” He spoke into the phone without looking away from me. “With whom am I speaking?” He paused a moment, getting his answer, I supposed.
“Officer Carter, I’m going to ask this only once, and I want you to understand that it’s not actually a request.”
Well, damn.
“I would like to speak with your supervisor.”
He took a step back so that he wasn’t in my personal space, and then finally broke his gaze. I half-expected Officer Carter to give him the same shit lines she’d given me, but most of me doubted it. When he spoke again, he confirmed what I was thinking.
“Lieutenant, as I’m sure your Desk Sergeant informed you, we have a bit of a problem going on here, and Officer Carter hasn’t been exactly helpful.” He turned away so that I couldn’t see his face. “Now, I don’t want to see her get in any trouble. I don’t want to see anyone get in any trouble, but I do expect that these concerns be taken seriously.”
There was a hard tone in his voice that I’d never heard before. The sort of tone that suggested whoever he spoke to would find it best just to do as he or she was told. I thought about being on the receiving end of that voice and a not-so unpleasant thrill went through me.
“I understand you have your procedures,” he continued. “But I also know that the police department I support would never suggest that a woman’s request for help was unimportant. In fact, Chief Spinner has repeatedly told me what an excellent job his people do. I’d hate to think that I’ll need to call him and tell him otherwise.”
He was silent for a few moments and then nodded in a way that made the tension in me relax ever so slightly. He’d gotten results.
“No, I don’t think she needs to come to the station. I’d prefer she stay here with me while she gives her statement.”
Any other time, I might’ve been annoyed at his presumption, but at the moment, I appreciated it. The more my head cleared, the more I realized that Cross’ suspicion about what had happened last was probably the truth. I knew I’d only had water and two shots, not as much because I remembered, but because I knew myself. I knew my tolerance, and I never drank enough to get completely wasted, even at home, much less alone at a strange bar in a strange city.
As much as I hated the thought of it, I knew that the only logical explanation was what Cross had suggested. Someone had drugged me.
And as soon as he got off the phone, I’d tell him that I wanted that blood test after all.
If someone had drugged me, I was sure as hell going to get proof.
Chapter Ten
When I told Cross that I wanted to have my blood tested for drugs, I expected him to suggest that the police take me to the hospital or even that they meet us there. Instead, he’d picked up his cell phone again, made a call, and then told me that someone would be by shortly.
“I’ll have the tests run at a private lab,” he explained as he sat down on the end of the couch. There was an entire cushion between us, but I was more aware of him than I would’ve been of anyone else at even half the distance.
I raised an eyebrow. “I can’t pay for that.”
He made a dismissive gesture. “Don’t worry about it.”
“People who have money never seem to understand that people without it always worry about it,” I said.
I didn’t really care about the money. What I wanted was a distraction until the cops came. He frowned and I wondered if I’d offended him. That hadn’t been my intention.
“This isn’t about money, Hanna. It’s about making sure you and your sister are safe.” His hand lifted and, for a moment, I thought he would reach for me. Then it dropped and something passed across his face. “We’ll find her and find who did this.”
There was nothing but absolute certainty on his face, and his confidence gave me strength.
“Why do you care?” I asked as my eyes met his. “You don’t know me.”
Heat filled his eyes and I shivered.
“But I want to,” he said. “Know you.”
I swallowed hard, but still shook my head. “You wanted to know my sister.” I looked away, unable to bear whatever expression I would see on his face.
I wasn’t aware that he’d moved until he brushed hair away from my face, his fingertips ghosting across my cheek. I knew it was a bad idea, but I couldn’t stop myself from turning my head until I was face-to-face with him, his mouth less than an inch away from mine. My stomach twisted and I desperately tried not to look at his lips, tried not to think about how much I wanted him to kiss me.
“I wanted a challenge,” he admitted. “But the moment I saw you, even when I thought you were her, I wanted you.”
My heart gave a near-painful thump. His fingers traced my jaw, then slid under my bottom lip. A trail of fire followed his touch, and my fingers curled into fists to keep me from touching him.
When he leaned forward, it was without hesitation, without reservation. The kiss wasn’t exactly gentle, but it wasn’t demanding either. It was more like he knew I wanted him to kiss me and he was going to make sure I remembered it.
And I knew I would.
I’d been kissed before, but never like that. His lips parted, his tongue tracing my lips, but not delving inside. He didn’t touch me aside from his fingertips resting lightly on my jaw, barely a touch, but enough for me to feel it. I leaned into him, increasing the pressure of our mouths together.
But before it could go any further, a bell rang from somewhere in the front of the house. I almost thought I could feel his reluctance as he pulled back, but I pushed the thought away. I wouldn’t read into it anything other than a kiss. He’d said he wanted me, but I didn’t know what that meant.
“That’s the door.” He stood.
“You don’t have a butler?” I blurted the question out before I realized how it sounded, but my head was still spinning from the kiss.
He gave me that quirk of a mouth that showed his dimple. “I have a housekeeper, but no, I don’t have a butler. I answer my own door.”
He disappeared for a moment and I took a slow, deep breath. Shit. I needed to pull myself together since I was pretty sure the cops would be coming into the room any second.
When Cross returned, he was followed by a man and a woman, both of whom were wearing detective shields at their waists. The woman had dark hair, eyes and skin, a pleasant but forgettable face and a tall, slender body. The man was older than her, though not as old as his silver hair suggested. I put him at his late forties to early fifties. He had one of those hang-dog faces that looked like it never cracked a smile.
“Miss Breckenridge,” the woman spoke first. “I’m Detective McAllister. This is my partner, Detective Bison. We understand you haven’t been able to contact your sister.”
Her word choice told me that she clearly didn’t want to be here. She wasn’t taking this seriously. And since her partner hadn’t said a word yet, I assumed he agreed with her.
I didn’t give a damn, however, what she thought. I didn’t care if they both felt like they were wasting time. I’d damn well do whatever it took to make sure my sister was found. And since I didn’t know the city even close to well enough to go looking for her, I needed their help. I intended to keep calling her phone, but that was pretty much all I could do.
“Yes,” I said as firmly as I could. “My sister is missing.”
“Please,” Cross said. “Have a seat.”
When they each sat in a chair, he came around and sat next to me. He wasn’t touching me, but he was closer than I thought a casual acquaintance would be. I wasn’t going to complain though. I appreciated the support his presence gave me.
“All right, Miss Breckenridge,” Detective Bison said. “Let’s get started.”
***
It was well into the afternoon by the time the cops and the nurse left. Now, I was alone with Cross, and with no idea what I should do now.
I’d tried calling Juliette’s phone three more times with no luck. The cops had sent a couple of uniforms over to the apartment while the detectives had talked to me, and they’d answered her phone twice. The third time, they’d let it go to voicemail. While the cops hadn�
��t found any indication that Juliette had been harmed, they also hadn’t been quite at the place where they’d believed that something was wrong.
I’d told them everything. How Juliette and I had gone to a club. How she’d met Sam and later went to a hotel with him. When I said the name of the club, Detective McAllister hadn’t batted an eye, but I’d seen the fleeting expression crossing Detective Bison’s face. At least he had known it wasn’t just a regular club.
Cross had seen it too because he’d casually mentioned that he could corroborate that Juliette and I had left separately since he’d been the one to take me home from the club. I’d flushed then, embarrassed by the implication he’d given, but I hadn’t contradicted him. Let the cops think what they wanted. I didn’t care about that. I just wanted my sister back. I wouldn’t even care if she simply strolled into her apartment, having been caught up with Sam, or shopping, or something else, and had completely forgotten about me.
Even though they’d given me their full attention, and had dutifully written down everything I said, as well as Cross’ statement regarding the hotel manager he’d spoken with who’d said that Juliette and Sam had left together around seven in the morning, I’d been able to tell they still thought this whole thing was a waste of their time.
The nurse had arrived in the middle of their questions and she’d taken both a blood and urine sample, explaining to me that some drugs, like GHB – more commonly known as the date-rape drug – stayed in the blood only up to eight hours. There was a little more leeway with a urine test. I hadn’t cared what she wanted to take from me if it’d help us get to the bottom of what happened.
The detectives asked both Cross and I why the nurse had come by, but neither of us gave them an answer. If we had, they would’ve wanted to run their own tests in their own lab, and who knew how long that would take. Cross’ nurse had been going straight to the private lab where she’d hand off the samples to a technician who would begin running tests right away.
As Cross showed the detectives to the door, I stayed on the couch, unsure what I was supposed to do next. Should I go back to the apartment? Would I even be able to get in or was it a crime scene now? I didn’t know, and I really didn’t want to show up there and be turned away. The only other people I knew in the city were the ones Juliette worked with, and I didn’t want them knowing what was happening, not until I had a better idea of it myself.
