“I thought you weren’t worried.”

“Fuck off.” I grab my keys not even knowing if I should, but I need to move. If she’s in trouble . . . if she needs me . . . God, I’m stupid. Of course I care. “Tell me what you know.”

“He said she hasn’t been to her house in nine days, and when she left, she went for a walk, no bags, no nothing, and hasn’t returned since. He also said there were a bunch of guys tailing her. I’m not saying anything’s wrong, but he figured I might want to know.”

I need to get up there. She could’ve taken off on a lead or be with her brother, but I need to know. I have to make sure she’s okay. “I’m leaving now.”

“I figured.”

“Don’t sound so smug,” I reply and then think about what Liam did for me. “Hey man, thank you.”

“Anytime. Be careful. I’ll let my buddy know you’re on your way, and I’ll text you his info. He can help with the lay of the land.”

Liam and I became friends through chance, but he’s proven time and again what a stand-up guy he is. “I appreciate it. Really.”

“I know. I better get back before Lee realizes I’m not there. Keep your eyes open.”

“Always. Talk to you soon.” I disconnect the call and get into motion. Time is not on my side. It’s been over a week, and I’ve been here licking my wounds. If they touch a hair on her head, I’ll put a bullet in each of theirs.

I need a plan. Do I drive or fly? I can get there faster by plane. Every minute is precious, but by the time I get the pilot, the plane, and everything else ready, I could be there. I throw some stuff in a bag and head out the door.

Once in the car I start to really formulate my first step. If she’s in trouble, I doubt I’ll find anything at her house, but it’s the only place to start. Maybe she left a clue. Then again, this is Charlie. I grab my phone and call Jackson.

“Hey,” he answers on the first ring.

“I’m heading to DC.”

“Took you long enough.”

“She might be in trouble,” I say. I feel broken. It’s ridiculous. This girl left over a stupid argument and then told me everything we shared was imagined, but I love her. I love her, and now I’m scared for her. She was drugged, she’s been watched, and now she’s disappeared.

Jackson goes quiet for a moment. “What do you know?” His entire demeanor has changed. He’s now Jackson Cole, Commander of the US Navy SEAL Team Four. I know this voice. I can respond to this voice, because this is who I should be right now.

I shift in the seat, press my foot against the pedal, and stop my bullshit. “She hasn’t returned to her apartment in nine days. Dreamboat had a friend watching out for her. He noticed some activity so he must’ve been watching her place. Liam called, said what I just told you, and I’m going.”

“I don’t think you should go near her place. If she disappeared intentionally, they’re watching it. If she’s missing unintentionally, you won’t find anything. You run the risk of tipping them off.”

“You’re wrong. If it was unintentional, something will be off. If she did it deliberately then her place will look the way I left it. Either way, that’s the starting point. I hope the motherfuckers are waiting for me. I welcome them.”

“Think, Mark. Think for once. Do you want anything to happen to her?”

“Don’t insult me.”

He sighs. “I’m not. I’m telling you that you have to think strategically. Not based on emotion. I know you love her, but that’s all the more reason to lock it down. What about contacting Charlie’s handler?”

“No!” I yell and almost veer off the road. “No way. I think she’s behind this.”

I fill Jackson in on all my concerns, and we discuss the possibilities. The thing is that we have no idea the mess she was involved in. For all I know, she’s been using us. We have no clue the depths of her deceit, or even if there is any. Blind trust truly leaves you in the dark.

Liam’s friend suggested I meet him at his office. He has some photos and other things he wants me to look at. I pull up to his office on the east side of DC. Definitely not what I pictured, but then again, neither is our office.

I open the door to the suite, and his receptionist walks me right back.

“Hi, Mark Dixon.” I extend my hand.

He gives me a firm handshake. “Glad you found the office okay. I’m Frank Baldwin. Sorry we’re meeting under these terms.”

I wonder if he knows something. “Have you found anything?” I get right to it. I’m already nine days behind the curve. I don’t want to panic, but I won’t pretend we’re not standing in quicksand, either. Charlie is a target.

“No, I wasn’t able to get into her house, either. I tried to pick the lock, but I should’ve known that was impossible.”

“Yeah, she has a fortress.”

“Look, someone was in her house the day you paid your visit. They left, and then she followed about twenty minutes later. I’ve tailed my share of people, but there was enough of an alarm going off that I think something is wrong. She had nothing on her, didn’t get in a car, and then she went to a very public place.” Frank shows me a few pictures of Charlie walking. I look closely at the one shot of her leaving her house. There’s a red car parked two spots down from the angle. “That car.” I point to it. “I’ve seen it. The license plate I mean. I’ve seen it before, and I remember it.”

The night of her mother’s party, there was a red car with the same plate. I swear I’ve seen it because it had my birthday as the plate number. It’s stupid and possibly nothing, but it’s the same make and model.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Can you run it?”

“Of course.” He starts to type it in. “Okay, it comes back to a Mandi Milostan.”

Well isn’t that some shit. She was at the party and then at Charlie’s house that day. There’s only one person who might have clues as to Charlie’s location. Time to go see Priscilla.

I arrive at Charlie’s mother’s house. Unease is all I feel. One of two things will happen here: she either doesn’t know that Charlie has vanished and I’ll tell her, or she knows and I look like a love struck fool. Either way, I have to be ready for the fallout.

Here goes nothing.

“Mark, right?” Dominic opens the door as my hand reaches for the doorbell.

“Yeah.” I shake his hand as he smiles. “Good to see you, Dominic.”

“Call me, Dom. Charlie isn’t here.” He leans against the doorjamb. “If you’re looking for her. I haven’t heard from her in a few days.”

That’s not encouraging. “When was the last time you spoke to her?”

“We don’t talk often, as you can imagine. It’s more of a when she feels like letting me know things.” Dominic steps forward after looking over to the right. Something caught his eye. “Why don’t you come inside? I’m sure my mother would love to see you.”

I nod and step through the doorway.

“Mom!” he yells. “Charlie’s friend is here. I’m going to take him to the game room.”