He nods. “I saw the blood, and the hand that pulls her through the bushes.”
“What do we do?”
“Give me a minute,” he says.
Jim talks to Brian and the security team. As they work out a plan, Kate goes over to spend time with Melinda and the boys—trying to keep them occupied and not interested in the investigation.
A little while later, Leilani makes her pineapple pancakes for everyone. They’re an immediate hit. I’d love them, too, if I wasn’t worried about Corrine.
While Jim is eating his pancakes, he asks Leilani about the house next door.
“Have you ever met the people who own the house?”
She nods. “They’ve owned it for a while. They don’t come very often—maybe once a year or so. They live in Japan. He’s an executive for an automaker.”
“How do you get a hold of them if you need to?”
“We don’t. They have a landscaping service that keeps up with the yard, and once a month, a cleaning crew comes in, but it may not even be that often.”
“Do you know the landscaping company? They may know how to reach them.”
She thinks for a moment. “I think it’s Grass, Flowers, and Fauna, but I could be wrong.”
He nods. “It’s worth a try.”
Jim gives one of his team members a look, and he disappears down the hall.
I reach for the carafe of coffee, but Leilani stops me. “I know you’re tired, Mr. Graham. Corrine would want you well rested when she returns. Maybe you should go for a nap.”
I couldn’t sleep if I tried, but I must look dead on my feet since everyone is shooing me away.
Jim walks with me to the master bedroom.
“I need her back,” I tell him, though I know I’m babbling. “I want to tell her she can rent her friend’s apartment, and if it’s that important that she doesn’t come back to Soleil Energy, I’ll make it work. I get it, but just come back.”
“We’re going to get this figured out,” he assures me. “Get some rest.”
We walk into my room, and Jim looks around before he leaves me. I lie down on the bed and stare at the ceiling.
Who could have taken her? I search my mind for someone who could be behind this. I wonder again if Bobby Sanders’ girlfriend would fly all the way here. That seems awfully extreme.
I huff in frustration. Damn it!
She’s hurt, and she needs help. Why does no one see that? Corrine didn’t leave me. She told me she wants to be with me. She just doesn’t want to work or live with me. And anyway, that wasn’t her arm that pulled her into the bushes.
How could she have just disappeared? The gate to the house next door requires an opener. Could someone from their gardening or housekeeping service have taken her?
My heart races. I’ve never felt so helpless.
I close my eyes.
Even skipping the physical, Corrine is perfect, but she doesn’t see it.
I think back to how funny she is. She had me going from the very beginning with that story about selling bull sperm, and there was no looking back after that. She’s fucking hilarious.
I’ve never seen anyone as focused as she is. Despite dating a professional football player, she was in the office day in and day out, and her professional life never faltered.
She’s fearless. When that fire alarm went off, she got the panicked applicant down the stairs and didn’t think twice about making sure they both got out of the building.
Then there’s her absolute lack of interest in my bank accounts. She’s always treated both the company and my personal money with the utmost respect—not like so many who think I’m an open checkbook.
I need her not just in my bed, but in my life—no matter what. And I’ll take it at whatever speed she wants to go. Just be okay. Please come back to me.
Chapter 40
Corrine
Slowly, the world comes into focus. My arms are zip-tied behind me and connected to some sort of pillar. I have a ball-gag in my mouth that’s secured behind my head. I’m lying on a cold marble floor, and it’s freezing, and there isn’t a sliver of light coming from anywhere. It comes back to me in pieces… Valerie brought me into the neighbors’ house and hit me.
I yell, but I don’t think anyone can hear me. The room is sealed tight. I fight back tears and breathe deeply, in through my nose, to calm myself.
I pull on the restraints, trying with all my might to break them, but they only cut into my wrists. The pole I’m wrapped around is smooth metal and adds to the coldness.
I’m in an awkward position, and I try to adjust, but it only puts pressure on the restraints. My foot is tucked under my leg, and it tingles from lack of blood flow.
I can feel myself hyperventilating. Hold it together!
I think of all the good things I’ve done to help myself. I made sure I looked into the camera, and I’m sure they saw her pull me into the bushes. I made sure I made muddy footprints toward the house. I drew an arrow pointing at the front door. I know Jackson will find me.
My head is killing me, and my eye is almost swollen shut. I can’t believe she hit me.
God, I’m thirsty. What I wouldn’t give for a gallon of water.
Where is Jackson? What about Brian? Or Ben? Or the rest of the team?
Jackson. I’ve been so stubborn, holding on to my heart and worrying he’ll be like all the other
