Epilogue #2
One of them points to the back of the building. “Is it possible she went into the garden?”
I nod. “Maybe…”
And it’s possible one of the many other teams might have escorted her and stayed with her.
Since every Hawke is under strict orders not to ever be alone, no one would have allowed her to wander off alone. And she wouldn’t have ignored the order. Not Astrid.
She’s the rule follower, the sweet, kind Hawke, who always looks for any way she can to assist anyone else, who dedicates her life to tutoring employees at the various businesses to try to help them achieve their ultimate dreams.
What she is not is a rule breaker.
That knowledge helps relieve a little of the tension in my chest, but until I have eyes on her, I can’t be confident she’s safe.
I jog toward the corner of the building and turn, almost slamming into two more of our security officers who are out on patrol.
“Mr. Newhart…”
“Have either of you seen Astrid?”
The taller of the two motions absently behind him. “She was just out here getting some air not that long ago.”
“When?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know, maybe twenty minutes ago. A member of the security team was with her.”
A member…
Not two.
My hackles immediately rise. “What do you mean?”
After the realization that McDonald had someone on the inside who got him access to Gabe’s car to plant the bomb, we created the new team and ensured no team member would ever work alone. That way, everyone always has at least one set of eyes on them, monitoring what they’re doing.
Confusion furrows his brow. “She was with someone, a man, broad shoulders…his back was to me, but I assumed it was one of you or one of the team.”
“But you didn’t see his face?”
He shakes his head. “No. She was talking casually with him. There wasn’t any reason to believe she was in any danger. I—”
“Fuck.” I shove my hands through my hair. “What did the man look like?”
“Dark suit, maybe a tux, light hair, blond maybe.”
My blood immediately runs cold. “Could it have been silver?”
He tilts his head as if considering my question for a moment and then nods. “Maybe. It was dark and I couldn’t see much from where I was standing. But yeah, could have been white or silver.”
Fuck.
I race around them into the open grassy space that is less a garden and more an empty side lot that serves as additional space for wedding receptions and other events and scan the entire area, but it’s deserted. If Astrid was here, she’s gone now.
Maybe she was just with Gabe…
A chat in the garden with her father alone would make sense.
I take a deep breath, then run past the confused guards again. “You two, scour every fucking inch of the property and around it. Look for anything out of the ordinary, any signs of where she might have gone.”
They nod and take off as I reach the guards outside the front door. “You two, don’t allow anyone in or out and radio the rest of the guards. Tell them to canvas the property and lock it down.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Astrid’s officially missing.”
Ducking back into the party, I relay the same information to the guards on duty inside, then rush across the dance floor, dodging happy couples twirling to the lively music.
Gabe stands near the stage with Savage, chatting with the mayor and his wife. By the time I reach them, I’m out of breath and probably look like a lunatic.
The last thing I want to do is cause a scene, but this isn’t something that can wait until it’s polite to interrupt.
Gabe immediately senses something isn’t right. “What’s wrong?”
“Were you outside talking to Astrid?”
His brow furrows. “No. I haven’t left the party at all since we got here. Why?”
“Shit.”
Savage’s jaw tightens. “What’s going on?”
I glance up to the balcony to where Bishop stands, watching everything, concern etched across her beautiful face as she speaks with someone on the radio. By now, she knows I haven’t been able to find her.
Turning back to Gabe, I try to remain as calm as possible. “Astrid’s gone. No one’s seen her in at least twenty-five minutes. And one of the guards outside said she was in the garden with a man with light-colored hair.”
I see this exact moment that both Savage and Gabe follow what I’m suggesting without having to explicitly say it in front of the man who runs the city and his wife.
Gabe pales. “Satriano?”
“Who the hell else could it have been?” I scan the space, hoping against hope that Astrid will appear and we can laugh this off. “I already locked down the entire event. We’ll question everyone. Determine what everyone saw. Check any security footage.”
But it won’t matter…
Because deep in my gut, I already know it’s too late.
Astrid is gone.
* * *
TWENTY MINUTES AGO
ASTRID
The light scent of the honeysuckle and magnolias that cover most of the properties surrounding the Marigny Opera House grounds would be calming under normal circumstances.
I breathe it in, hoping it will stop the way my hand trembles.
But it doesn’t work.
I’m not sure anything could at this point.
Not tonight.
A twig snaps somewhere behind me in the darkness…
* * *
I hope you enjoyed Renegade Hawke.