Chapter 38
CHAPTER
THIRTY-EIGHT
LYLE
“Troy!” I’m on my feet and already headed toward the door by the time he hangs up. We all got dressed in case he needed us.
“We’re coming with you.” Easton pulls a gun from underneath one of the tables, and yanks open the drawer where there’s a holster.
We returned all of the weapons to their rightful hiding places after Alisa’s brothers visited a few months ago, because life is too unpredictable to have to dig for them.
Even Alisa has two spots for her gun and knife, and she rushes to grab them before we’re all running for the door.
“Why would the elevator bypass his floor?” she asks, shoving her feet into a pair of shoes.
“I don’t know but I don’t fucking like it.” I frown as I yank open the door. “East, can you set the alarm?”
He recently upgraded the system so he can monitor things from his phone, including setting the security system.
“Yep. Let’s roll. I don’t like how he sounded.”
I have a habit of using the speaker phone setting when I’m talking. It lets me pace as I discuss things. If I need privacy and discretion, I close the door to my office. Today is no different, and my pack now knows as much as I do.
My chest hurts as Easton takes the lead and gets behind the wheel. I shouldn’t drive when I’m this distracted anyway. I’m fully bonded to Troy, and there’s this deep well of doom inside of me. I simply can’t tell how much is mine.
“There’s a parking garage underneath the building that holds Waterson Logistics,” I explain to East as I pull on my seat belt. Maybe doing normal things will help, but I doubt it.
“I know it,” East growls. Then my job is done here.
Alisa squeezes my arm before she puts her thigh holster on. She’s wearing a pair of shorts under her dress, and I expect it’s because she had a feeling Mitch was going to be difficult.
I didn’t think an elevator malfunction would be the reason we’re rushing downtown. Taking a cleansing breath, I force my brain to work. I pull up the location sharing app on my phone and press on Troy’s tab.
“It shows he’s still at the garage,” I mumble. “I wish these things showed me more information.”
“It’s something,” Silas grunts, his voice tight. “We’ll start there and then take action.”
“If he’s not there, what are our options?” Alisa asks.
“We’ll have a conversation with Mitch otherwise. I’ve been expecting to have a problem with him all day. I’d hate to believe I was wrong,” I drawl sarcastically. “My nerves are drawn really tightly.”
“You’re the only one bonded to him,” Alisa says sadly. “Something about what happened feels off.”
I nod, refusing to give life to any of my worries. Parking garages aren’t my favorite place. Too much shit goes down in them, and since East is driving, he can’t hack into their cameras.
I’ll make the security guards do it for me. I just need to fucking get there.
“Lyle, you’re getting really pale. Breathe.”
Alisa’s palm on my face makes Easton’s words register as I nod and suck in a breath. I’m trying not to panic, which means everything else is shutting down. I’m locking up the logical part of my brain going through every single possible outcome, and only ten percent are positive.
If he was alright, he’d have called me back already. Troy has to know his abruptness would have worried me, and if he didn’t and he’s perfectly fine, I’ll let Silas edge and spank him. I need to fucking know either way.
“I’m parking in the garage. If it’s permitted, I’ll hack into the damn system,” Easton says, turning down the ramp. He does a loop around the only level, and while it feels as if there’s an elephant stomping on my chest, none of us see any sign of Troy.
“His location says he’s still here,” I mutter. “Let me out.”
Silas follows me and I glance around to see where the elevator is in relation to the ramp out of here while Easton parks the car.
“Troy would have taken the fastest way out,” Silas agrees, watching me. Sometimes, I don’t even need to talk, he simply gets my train of thought.
“Let’s walk it,” I reply. “Look for his phone.”
The two of us stalk slowly through the garage, looking under vehicles for the device. I swallow hard when I see a long tube and glance at Silas.
“By the book, just in case,” he mutters, pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket. Thank fuck for southern charm. Leaning over he picks it up with the material between him and the item, and I growl when I recognize the stun gun Alisa gave Troy. “That’s not good. Where’s his phone?”
I glance at mine and shake my head. “His phone should still be here. Let’s keep walking.”
A minute later, I find it. The screen is cracked, and it’s beside a structural column.
“He didn’t drop it,” I muse, watching as Silas wraps it using the same material and tucks it into his back pocket. “Let’s go see what Mitch has to say for himself.”
Alisa is anxious as she waits by the elevator with Easton, and I shake my head tightly as I press the call button.
“He lost the stun gun and his phone. I think there was a fight,” I explain. “We’re headed upstairs. The offices are on the sixth floor.”
Alisa takes a shaky breath as we head inside, but the elevator only takes us up one floor before opening again. There’s police officers speaking to a blonde who appears to be distraught.
The elevators seem to be working fine. Something fucking stinks.
“Actually,” I murmur. “Let’s get out here.”
Easton’s hand shoots out to catch the doors from closing, and we walk toward the group speaking together.
“I just had the security guard check the cameras,” the officer says. “There’s nothing to show someone was taken.”
“Excuse me,” Easton says, his voice booming across the lobby as he comes closer. “It’s Officer Gray, right?”
“Yes, sir. Hello, Mr. Mayor. What are you doing here?”
“Somehow, I think it may have something to do with why this woman called you. My pack mate didn’t come home after a meeting with Mitch Ancherson and we’re concerned.”
The officer’s eyes shutter immediately, and I wonder if he’s one of the men who were involved in searching for Rosa last year.
“Why are you always involved in the bad shit that happens in this city?”
“So you admit something happened!” the woman yells. “Troy Evans came up to speak to my uncle, and I went to run an errand during their meeting. I saw him get pulled into a van.”
“I think you’re watching too many movies,” Officer Gray grumbles.
“You’re dismissed, Officer,” Easton growls.
“You’re dispatch! You can’t run investigations.”
“You just said nothing happened,” Mitch’s niece says, crossing her arms over her chest. Yep, now she’s getting it. “So that means your assistance and presence is no longer necessary.”
“All the crazy shit happens when you’re around, Easton. I swear.” The officer stomps out of the building, and I come closer with Silas and Alisa.
“Tell us what happened, please,” I tell her. “I was headed up to speak to your uncle since he was the last person to see him.”
“You’re Mitch’s niece?” Alisa asks.
“Yes. I’m Rory Waterford,” she says. “I got the feeling there’s bad blood between Troy and my uncle.
As I was saying, I was walking toward the elevator and heard him yelling.
He was fighting against several men, but looked really out of it, almost like he was drugged.
When I told them to leave him alone, they dragged him away.
I watched them hit his head with a gun before that.
I was trying to call the police before I yelled, but the signal wouldn't connect.”
“You called the police once you got to the lobby?” Easton asks.
“Yes. I don’t understand why the video camera didn’t record anything. They’re supposed to run all day,” Rory sighs.
“I have a suspicion about that. Let me go see,” Easton says.
“Are there any cameras in the hallways of your office?” I ask.
“No. I haven’t found it necessary,” she explains. “The people who work for me have all passed through various security measures. Well, except my uncle. I’m honestly hoping he’ll get bored and disappear soon. It’s what he’s good at.”
No love lost there. Noted.
I continue to speak with Rory until Easton returns, shaking his head. Dammit.
“Would it be alright if we went up to speak to your uncle alone? You’re shaking and I think you need a second to breathe,” I explain.
What I’m really saying is that I don’t want any witnesses to anything I have to say to Mitch.
“Actually, have Stacy buzz you in and then tell her to go home. I’m going to call it quits. My staff are all working remotely today, and I’m going to forward the calls to my mobile. Sometimes, it’s just not worth staying at the office.”
“I get that. Thanks, Rory. We’ll find Troy. Thank you for your help.”
“I really hope you do. The cops aren’t going to do shit,” she mutters. Her hands shake and Alisa surprises me by stepping forward to take them in her hands and squeezes them.
“Thank you for caring about a stranger enough to help,” Alisa whispers, blinking rapidly. Her eyes fill with tears and she smiles weakly at her. “I can tell you from experience, not many people would. I need you to do me a favor.”
Rory nods, sniffling. “Anything. Troy was obviously having a bad day when he came to see my uncle, and he didn’t take it out on me.”
“If you don’t hear from Mitch, and he does disappear, please don’t go looking.”
I share a glance with Silas and he shrugs. The only way to get the answers we want from Mitch will be by force. I do not believe he’s innocent. The security footage was doctored very soon after the attack.
“I won’t,” Rory promises. “He’s been awful since he started taking an interest in the shipping company.”
“Thank you,” Alisa says, dropping her hands.
Rory gives us a tight nod and walks out the front door, not bothering with the elevator. As long as she doesn’t come back today, it’s not our problem.
“Let’s start our own little investigation, shall we?” I ask, pulling Alisa under my arm. She stifles a sob as she hugs me, and we begin walking back toward the elevator.
Easton never goes anywhere without zipties. Mitch is about to have his own version of a bad fucking day.