“Because Rory has gone missing! I don’t know why you never listen to me. I’ve been trying to reach her all week and her phone goes to voicemail. Finally, that nose-ringed friend of hers answered Rory’s landline today. She told me she’s been ‘crashing’ at Rory’s place. Why can’t young people use proper English like they did when I was young? Rory hasn’t been there all week, and her friend doesn’t know where she is.”
“She hasn’t been home all week? Did the friend try calling her work?”
“Not that I know of. She didn’t sound that well. All stuffed up or something.”
Great. She was probably on drugs. Rory ran with a pretty wild crowd sometimes. Still, something didn’t sound right. Sure, maybe she could have stayed with a friend for a week, but surely, she would’ve let Nicole know.
“I’ll call
her work in the morning and make certain she’s been there.”
“Finally, you’re taking my concerns seriously,” his mother said huffily. “If something has happened to her and you’ve been ignoring me I’ll never forgive you. It’s your job to look after your sisters, Gray.”
“Yes, mother, I know.” Like he didn’t hear that from her often enough. “I’ll let you know what I find out.” He ended the call before he said something he might regret.
A cool, soft hand covered his. “I’m sure everything’s all right.”
He nodded. “Of course, it is. She’s probably just avoiding mother’s calls. Lord knows, I can’t blame her. I’m not worried.”
Chapter Fourteen
He was frantic.
Panic threatened to overwhelm him. This wasn’t him. He wasn’t a worrier. He always remained cool and calm, no matter what stress he faced.
He didn’t feel so cool and calm right now.
He glanced up at the clock that hung on the wall in one of the conference rooms. 12:05 p.m. Twelve hours since his mother had called to tell him Rory had been missing for a week. He’d tried calling her. He’d called her work, and they hadn’t seen or heard from since last Friday week. He’d even managed to rouse Nicole long enough for a half-decent conversation. And still, he had no idea where she was.
“You’re going to have to go out there,” Hunter stated, leaning back in his chair.
Gray nodded. That was his thought too. He paced up and down the length of the conference room. He’d try to get some more information out of that pothead, Nicole, in person. He remembered Rory talking about staying with a guy. Maybe a boyfriend. Perhaps she was just holed up somewhere with him.
“If I find out she’s spent the whole week partying I’m going to drag her home by her hair.” An empty threat. His sister was a grown woman. But he’d still lecture the hell out of her. Then he’d finally tell his mother that she either got some real help or she stopped calling him. Because he couldn’t take this anymore. He wanted a real life, one with Lacey. Maybe with children, although they hadn’t spoken about that yet. But a life that didn’t involve constant phone calls from his frantic mother and chasing his younger, thoughtless sister around New York City.
“We’ll find her,” Connor said confidently. “I’m just bringing her credit card details up now. Too bad her phone is turned off or I could track it. I’ll ping the last location as well.”
That was actually what worried him most. Not that she hadn’t been seen or heard from in a week. But that she’d turned off her phone. Her phone was always on. Sure, she might not answer his calls, but Rory’s life was on that phone. She never turned it off.
“Oh, crap.”
“What?” He turned to Connor, noting the other man’s frown. “What is it?”
“The last location of her cell was in a parking lot outside a BDSM club, the same club where she last used her credit card was at 1:22 a.m.” He glanced around at them all. “The club was Whip It.”
Gray turned to Lacey and felt everyone else around him do the same. She just looked confused. “What is it? Why are you all looking at me?”
There was silence for a moment.
“Because Whip It is your cousin Travis’s club,” Gray told her. “It could be that the last time anyone saw Rory was there. There’s no way she would have gone a week without using her credit card.”
“She hasn’t accessed her bank account either,” Connor said, his gaze fixed on his monitor.
“Book me the next available flight to New York City,” Gray told him. The only way to find her was to be there himself.
“Book a ticket for me too,” Lacey said suddenly.
He stopped pacing to stare at her. “You don’t need to come with me.”