She tilted her blocky head and gave him a look that said, “Aren’t you?”
“Good point. All right, get in. Let’s go find your mama.” He gestured for her to leap into the back seat. She did, but from there she inelegantly climbed into the front passenger seat. “Don’t make me regret this,” he warned.
He pulled into the clinic’s back parking area, disappointed when Neve’s Tahoestillwasn’t there. Shane eased into the spot beside him moments later, in uniform and with his search and rescue gear in the vehicle.
Reece headed for the back door. “So what did that woman end up doing with her sick cat?”
“I told her to take it to Dr. Bunting.”
Reece inserted the key and turned the lock. “I should contact her office and see if she’ll take Neve’s appointments today. I don’t think she had many lined up, but—”
“Don’t bother.” Shane followed Reece into the hallway and shut the door. “The cat woman tried calling Bunting’s office when Neve didn’t show up but was told by staff that something unexpected came up, and the doc was out of the office. They didn’t know when she’d be back.”
Reece turned and looked at his friend. “Coincidence?”
“Probably.”
“Mind if I take a look?” Reece raised a hand as Shane was opening his mouth. “I promise not to touch anything.” The harsh hallway light that was usually off was the only hint that something was off. But a ticklish, eerie disquiet had been growing inside him, seeping into the marrow of his bones.
Dialing Neve’s number once more, he started toward her office. As he passed one of the exam room doors that opened onto the hallway, he caught what sounded like the old-timey melody “Rescue Me,” but it camefrom far away. A frisson of fear threaded its way through him, and he stopped.
“Shane! You’d better come here.”
A beat later, Shane was beside him. “What?”
“Hear that? That song is Neve’s ringtone forme.” He held up his phone. When the song stopped, he hit Neve’s number again.
Shane snapped on latex gloves and entered the exam room, where he flipped on the overhead light. He inched inside, scoured the room with his gaze, then turned toward Reece. His eyes darted to something behind the door, and his face grew grim. “Shit.”
A vise gripped Reece’s chest. “What is it?” he rasped.
Shane pointed. “Take a look. But don’t fucking touch anything.”
A few steps in, Reece wheeled, his eyes landing on Neve’s bag, some of its contents scattered across the floor. There lay her wallet and sunglasses. One corner of the phone that continued its jaunty song stuck out from her bag.
A chill sped up Reece’s spine, turning him ice cold. “What the hell happened here?”
Shane started taking pictures with his phone. “I don’t know.”
“Do you see her car keys?”
“No. But they might still be in her purse. I’m gonna call the sheriff. Why don’t you step outside until I’ve had a chance to check the entire place?”
“But—”
“Reece.” Shane glared at him. “Don’t fuck this up.”
“What if she’s in here somewhere, hurt?” Reece’s voice shook.
Shane took a step toward him. “Then I’ll find her. I’m checking right now.” Reece backed up, and Shane opened the outer door for him. “Go to your truck and sit tight. Don’t let Pearl out. There might be evidence in the parking lot, and we don’t want her running around and disturbing it.”
Reece stumbled to his truck, a feeling of utter helplessness swamping him, pulling him into a tempest of terror.
Neve, where are you?
Seconds later, he shook himself out of his daze and called Noah. Quickly filled him in.
“Fuck!” his brother yelped. “What can I do?”
