All I could think about was a car accident. Fran’s mother had died in one. Then Arturo came to mind, but I had no beef with him anymore unless he was pissed that I hadn’t found anything out about his shipment. I wouldn’t put it past him to fuck with me.
The elevator dinged before Janet and Nora emerged. Nora appeared to be crying while Janet, ever the stoic woman, moved her brown hair off her forehead as she held her head high.
I fisted my hands at my sides. “What happened to Fran?” My voice cracked, or maybe it was a tooth.
Janet glanced around the quiet hall. “Let’s talk inside so as not to disturb your neighbors.”
They were already disturbed by Grace screaming. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mrs. Jackson poked out her head again.
“Fuck them. Where is my daughter?” My tone bordered on a yell that could wake the dead.
Tears flowed down Nora’s cheeks.
Grace held on to my arm.Thank fuck.Otherwise, I might punch the wall.
“Is it a car accident?” My heart was in my throat.
“Can we please go inside?” Janet grabbed Nora’s shoulders. “Come on, love. You need to calm down.”
Mother and daughter went into the apartment before Grace and me.
Grace touched my face. “Brian, breathe.”
I couldn’t. I couldn’t even feel my legs.
“I got you,” Grace said as she guided me to a chair across from Nora and Janet, who were sitting on the couch.
Thank fuck Grace was at my side. Otherwise, I might collapse. As it stood, my legs were weak. “Talk,” I commanded.
Grace dropped down to perch on the arm of my chair.
Nora bawled as though I’d slapped her.
Janet rested her hands in her lap. “I’m here because I felt this discussion needed to be in person. I’m sure everything is fine. Fran spent the afternoon with Ryan Montgomery. He wanted to take her to Faneuil Hall for lunch. I told her to be back by six for dinner, but they haven’t returned yet.”
Nora’s lips trembled. “We’ve been calling Fran’s phone and Ryan’s. We keep getting their voicemails.”
I dug my elbows in my knees. “Why are you in Boston and not the Cape?”
“We came back a day early,” Janet said. “The girls lied and told me they were tired of the beach, but Fran wanted to see Ryan.” She glared at her daughter. “I called Ryan’s mother but no answer. I even called Ryan’s counselor, Josh, from the Boys & Girls Clubs. I think you met the man at the banquet. He’s trying to track down Ryan. I’m waiting for him to call me back. I was hoping they would show before now.”
“Fran was supposed to be under your supervision!” I shouted.
Janet lifted her palms. “I know. I’m so sorry. Ryan is a good kid. I thought it would be fine. I’m sure they lost track of time. You know how teenagers in love can be?”
“No, I don’t.” I snapped as I jumped to my feet.
Janet didn’t know much about my childhood, but teenage puppy love wasn’t even in my vocabulary. That wasn’t the issue. For all I knew, Ryan wasn’t a good kid. I would seriously strangle him if anything happened to my daughter.
Grace was calm, cool, and collected, as though she’d dealt with a loved one missing. “Not all teenagers experience that, Janet. I didn’t.”
I paced. “Nora, Fran told me that you two looked into Ryan’s background and didn’t find anything odd, right?”
I was kicking myself in the ass for not doing the one thing I should’ve done—my own background investigation.
“No, Mr. McCauley. If we had, Fran wouldn’t have gone out with him.”
“I didn’t want to call the police before telling you,” Janet said, “but I have one of my employees at Marsh Technologies checking the hospitals in Boston.”
