Chapter 23
The ringing of a phone cut into Raven’s sleep, making her frown and curl away from the noise. She didn’t want to wake up. It had taken her so long to drift off, and even then, her sleep had been riddled with nightmares.
Connor’s breath rushed over her neck. “It’s early. Who would be calling you?”
She had no idea. And she had no intention of finding out until more sleep had found her.
The ringing stopped.
Her breathing started to even out again, Connor’s warmth against her back helping pull her back to sleep…only for her phone to ring again. Not only hers—Connor’s, too.
Her eyes popped open. Both phones ringing at the same time? That couldn’t be a coincidence.
She reached for her cell at the same time Connor rolled and grabbed his own phone.
She glanced at the screen before answering. “Dad? What’s wrong?”
“Your mother’s missing.”
“What?” She shot out of bed and raced to the dresser. “What do you mean, missing?”
“A group of us went on a sunrise walk. Someone didn’t latch the gate properly. We think she woke up alone and confused and found her way out.”
How did that happen? Weren’t there guards on the actual building? Nurses? Caregivers? Someone?
She shook her head. She’d figure all that out later. “I’m coming now, Dad. And so is Connor. We’ll find her.”
She hung up and pulled on jeans as Connor ended his call and rushed to grab shorts and a shirt. “Who was that?”
“Zac. He had to choose between staying with your mom and going with your dad this morning. He went with the higher risk of your dad in the forest.”
Of course, because her mother should have been safe at Deep River Residence. Why hadn’t she been safe?
The second they were dressed, they rushed out of the house and into Connor’s truck. He reached the residence in less than five minutes.
Inside, people were already up and moving, the smell of toast and coffee lingering in the air.
Briar was in the lobby, her hand on Raven’s father’s back. “Oh, thank God you’re here. We’ve checked the camera footage and saw her leave. She’s on foot, so she couldn’t have gone far.”
Raven wrapped her dad in a big hug. As she pulled back, Connor’s phone rang.
Please be Zac saying he’s found her.
Connor nodded. “Got it. Coming now.” He hung up and looked at her, then her father. “Zac hasn’t found her yet. I’m going to help him. He’s got the rest of the guys patrolling nearby streets.”
Her heart dropped.
“Please bring her back to us,” her father said, his voice almost tormented.
Connor dipped his head. “Yes, sir.”
He left, and Raven turned to her dad. “He’s going to find her.”
He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have left. I should have stayed with her. I thought—”
“This is not your fault,” Briar pushed. “Mistakes were made by a lot of people here. The doors that were supposed to be locked weren’t. The gate wasn’t locked either. I’m so sorry.”
“How did that happen?” Raven asked, furious.
Briar cringed. “Harry, a new employee who did a perimeter check this morning, didn’t lock the door after himself, and the gate didn’t latch behind him. I’m so sorry.”
She didn’t want the woman to be sorry. She just wanted her mother safe.
Her father’s chest started to heave. “I should be out there helping. I should—”
“Dad.” She touched his hand. “You’re exactly where you need to be. Connor and Zac are professionals. They’ll find her.”
His exhale was slow, his eyes unfocused.
“Why don’t we sit down?” Briar said quietly.
Raven helped him to a nearby couch.
At the feel of eyes on her, she looked up to see a familiar elderly man across the room, staring. Herbert.
She shook her head. She needed to focus on her dad. She knelt in front of him. “Have you taken your medicine this morning, Dad?”
He shook his head.
“Okay, I’ll get it.” She studied her father’s eyes. “Do you need anything else? Water? Food?”
“No, dear, I’m okay.” Then he lowered his head into his hand.
He wasn’t okay.
She pressed a kiss to his head before rising and striding down the hall.
Her footsteps were fast, her head a foggy mess. But she hadn’t been lying to her father. Connor and Zac would find her mom. This was what they were trained to do. This was their job. And her mother was an elderly woman. She couldn’t have gotten far.
At her parents’ door, she keyed in their code and stepped inside. Quickly, she rushed over to the medicine cabinet and pulled out what she needed.
Her back was turned when the soft click of the door closing sounded.
She spun, gasping slightly when she saw Herbert in the living room.
“I was hoping you’d be back, darling.”
Crap. “I’m sorry, Herbert. I really need to go.”
She moved to the door, but he met her halfway, blocking her way out.
“Darling, it’s Dad.”
She shook her head. “No. You’re not my dad. My father’s out there, and he needs me. I’m Raven.”
He frowned, like she was the one forgetting things. “They did something to you, didn’t they?”
“Who?”
His voice lowered. “Whoever is behind this Lotus.”
Lotus…he’d said that before. She didn’t have time for this. Still, she asked, “What’s Lotus?”
“Why don’t you remember? What did they do to you?”
She spoke slowly, quietly. “I don’t remember because I’m not your daughter, Herbert. My name is Raven Price. And I have to—”
“Tell me what they did.”
“Herbert—”
“It’s Dad. I…I tried to tell you not to come here. I warned you. But you didn’t listen to me.” Tears filled his eyes. “Then I lost you. But not this time. This time I refuse to lose you.” His fingers clamped down around her arms. And just like last time, his strength was like an iron grip.
Connor’s boots sank into the dirt as he jogged through the trees, scanning every inch of forest he passed.
Where are you, Gene?
This wasn’t like other search and rescues. This was Raven’s mother. He needed to find her and he needed to find her fast.
His walkie crackled as Zac’s voice came over the line. “Anything?”
“Nothing. Not even—” He stopped, gaze catching on a print in the mud by the water. “Hang on. I might have something.”
He knelt beside the river. Definitely a footprint.
Shit, why was she so close to the water?
“I got a print by the river. I’ll send you my coordinates.” He quickly sent them to Zac, then lifted his gaze, eyeing more prints.
When he was on his feet again, it didn’t take long to find her. He rounded a few more trees before spotting Raven’s mom, at first just a flash of pale blue behind another tree.
He closed the space between them.
Gene Price gasped when she saw him and stumbled back. The bottom of her nightgown was wet, her feet only covered with muddy slippers.
“Who are you?” she barked.
He lifted his hands, not getting any closer. The last thing he needed was for Raven’s mother to think he was a threat and hurt herself. “I’m search and rescue, ma’am. I was sent to find you.”
She frowned. “Find me?”
“Yes. Your husband is very worried.”
Her eyes flared. “Craig?”
“I can take you to him.”
She shook her head. “I…I need to find her first.”
“Who?”
“Raven. My daughter. She’s ten and I…I lost her.” Emotion clogged her voice, making a visible tremble creep into her fingers.
“I can take you to her too.”
Gene’s eyes flashed back to him. “You know where she is?”
“She’s with her father. She’s safe.”
Relief sagged Gene’s shoulders. Then she swayed.
Connor shot forward and gently took hold of her upper arm. “Whoa.” He gave her a moment to steady herself before saying softly, “Let me take you to them.”
She looked up at him. And something new entered her features. A hint of recognition, maybe?
“I know you,” she whispered.
“Yes, ma’am. We’ve met a couple of times.”
“You’re Raven’s boy.”
He chuckled. “I haven’t been called a boy in a while, but yes, that’s me.”
“Connor.” This time when she looked around, her eyes were clearer. Sharper. “Oh no. What have I done?”
“You just went for a walk. But I can take you back.”
She nodded vigorously. “Yes, please.”
He put an arm around her waist and took a few steps forward—only to stop at a crunching sound from his right.
His gaze swung around.
Zac?
Another second passed. No one stepped out. Zac would have shown himself by now.
He scanned the trees, but as far as he could see, no one was there.
He shifted to the other side of Gene, covering her before moving again. But he continued to scan their surroundings as he walked, his free hand hovering over his concealed weapon.
They were halfway back to the residence when Zac appeared in the distance. Connor tapped two fingers under his eyes, then fanned his fingers outward with his palm down, a silent signal to his teammate that they may not be alone and to scan for threats.
Zac dipped his chin before disappearing back into the trees.
When Connor reached the gate, he helped Gene through. An employee stood by and locked it immediately after them.
The second they were inside, Craig stood from the couch and rushed over to Gene. “Oh, honey, I was so worried!”
“I know. I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”
Connor searched the room before looking at Briar. “Where’s Raven?”
The caregiver’s brows rose. “Oh. She went to get Craig his medication but hasn’t come back. I’ll—”
“I’ll go.” He was moving before Briar finished speaking.
In the hall, he sidestepped an elderly couple and passed a dozen closed doors.
Her parents’ apartment door was also closed, but one push of the handle and it opened. He stepped inside—and his eyes narrowed at the sight in front of him.
Herbert was holding both of Raven’s arms, and he stood so close there was barely any space between them.
“Herbert?”
The older man spun, releasing one of Raven’s arms but not the other. “Who are you?”
Connor was two for two on not being remembered this morning. “Connor. You know me, Herbert.”
“No. I don’t! Are you one of them?”
Connor frowned. “Them?”
“Do you have something to do with Lotus?”
What the fuck was Lotus? “I don’t even know what that is, Herbert.”
“He’s on your side,” Raven said gently.
Herbert looked back at Raven, and for a moment, he just stared at her.
Connor took a few more steps forward. “Have you met Raven?”
“Raven?” Herbert whispered.
“This is Raven. She’s with me.”
The elderly man looked back at Connor. Then at Raven. He frowned at her, that same clarity that had glowed in Gene’s eyes, now returning to Herbert. “You’re not….”
She shook her head. “No.”
He dropped her arm.
Connor inched between them, just in case Herbert relapsed.
“I’m sorry.” Herbert shook his head “I…I forgot. I thought—”
“It’s okay,” Raven said gently.
Briar stepped into the room. “Herbert. What are you doing in here? Is everything okay?”
Without a word, he stepped out of the room. Briar frowned at them before following.
Connor turned to Raven. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I just feel sorry for him.” She suddenly straightened. “You’re back. Does that mean—”
“She’s with your dad. She’s okay.”
A breathy sigh escaped her, and she leaned her forehead against his chest. “Thank you.”
He followed her back to her parents and watched as she embraced her mother.
Connor’s attention only shifted when Zac stepped inside and stopped beside him. “I found fresh prints in the dirt.”
“Did you follow them?”
“Yes. They led to tire tracks on an access road.”
Someone had been out there. Watching Gene? Or watching him?