“They traced the last few hours before her disappearance. She’d been to the bank—to the safe deposit box.”
“What did she do there?”
Sebastian shrugged. “Not much. Got some papers, I think. But someone must have seen her there. Assumed she’d gotten valuables.”
“And followed her.”
Sebastian knocked back his drink, shuddering as the scotch went down. “Followed her and took her.” He stared at Dylan, his eyes filled with more pain than any man should have. “The nights are the worst. I can’t sleep. I keep thinking about what she’s going through.”
“We’ll find her, Sebastian. I swear on my life, we’ll find her.”
“I kept thinking the police would find her. That it had to be something simple, a misunderstanding, that she’d left because I’d said something thoughtless, but she would have called. She isn’t cruel. Dammit, I should have come to you first.”
“It’s good that the police are involved. But they have too many other cases. I swear to you, Sebastian, I’ll find her.”
Sebastian nodded. “I know.” He swallowed hard, then tried to smile. “Remember Christmas?”
“Of course.”
“She was so happy about the locket. So thrilled that I’d had the stones replaced.”
“It meant a lot to her.”
Sebastian leaned across the big oak dining table. “I keep thinking that’s what the bastard saw. That the necklace drew his attention. If I hadn’t given it to her—”
“Stop it. You didn’t do this. It’s not your fault.”
“How do you know?”
“I know this—when she gets back, she’s going to need you. If you rake yourself over the coals like this, you won’t be any good for her.”
He leaned back, nodding. “Right. I need to be strong for her.”
“Let the detective in charge know you’ve hired us. I’ll need to see their reports.”
“I will.”
Dylan nodded at the scotch bottle. “Need another?”
“Yeah. But I’m not going to. If I start drinking now, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.”
“Right. So why don’t you kick back. Take a swim or something. We’re having dinner in a couple of hours.”
“I can’t, Dylan. I wish I could.”
“You don’t have to see anyone. I could arrange that.”
Sebastian stood. “I have to go. I’m grateful to you, buddy. And listen.” He swallowed again, his Adam’s apple too visible. He’d lost weight. “Whatever happens—”
“We’ll find her.”
Sebastian turned away. A lock of his hair fell over his eye. Julie would have pushed it back, then she would have kissed him. It was something she did without fail. She’d been a sucker for Sebastian since day one. Dylan was glad she’d found happiness. Now all he had to do was bring her back to the arms of the man she loved.
Failing wasn’t an option.
LILY RAISED her soda glass. “To us.”
The rest of the family joined her in the impromptu toast. “To us.”
They drank their assorted beverages and went on with the birthday dinner. Max and her father were already deep in discussion about the new paddock. Ashley, still in her tennis outfit, ate as if calories didn’t exist. Dylan hardly touched his food.
She knew Julie’s kidnapping weighed heavily on him—even more so now that he’d agreed to take the case. She wondered again if Dylan knew he was still in love with Julie. It had broken his heart when she married Sebastian, but good old Dylan hadn’t said a word. He’d just stood there as best man and watched his one true love marry his closest friend.
So much of what had happened to Dylan was connected to that moment. His decision to leave San Antonio and work for the Dallas P.D. His undercover work infiltrating J. B. Crowe’s mob family. The fateful error that had blown his cover.
Most people wouldn’t tie all those events together, but most people didn’t know Dylan the way she did. Sometimes—she wouldn’t swear on a bible or anything—but sometimes she felt absolutely sure that she could read his mind. And that he could read hers. More than that, she felt his pain. Not to the degree he felt it, but it was there. A dull ache that told her Dylan was in trouble. It didn’t seem to matter how far away he was, she always knew.
The ache was strong tonight. She wasn’t at all sure he should have taken the case. If he failed…
And even if he didn’t, the outcome was probably going to devastate him. The odds of Julie being alive after seven months were slim.
Dylan shoved some food around on his plate. She reached over and touched his hand. Startled, he looked at her.
“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered.
“I don’t know.”
“I do. Because you’re going to do everything possible. You’re the best man for the job and there’s not going to be one stone left unturned. If anyone on earth can find her, it’s you.”
He nodded slowly, unconvinced, she thought.
“Little brother.”
The appellation always made him smile. Eight minutes didn’t make him her “little” anything. But his smile failed to appear this time.
“Dylan, I know it’s hard, but for Dad’s sake, try. Eat something, just a little. Smile, even if you don’t mean it.”
He sighed. “I am pretty good at appearing to be something I’m not. And right now that means being in the mood to celebrate.”
“After dinner, why don’t we sit down and talk about what we know so far, and what’s next.”
He smiled, and damned if she didn’t believe the transformation. “Good idea, Lily.” He ate some steak, drank some iced tea, laughed at something Ashley said.
But the ache was still heavy in Lily’s chest. The ache that told her Dylan was dying inside.
CHAPTER TWO
LILY’S FIRST VIEW of Eve Bishop’s mansion came after almost a mile of winding road, flanked on each side with huge chinquapin oaks she’d give a pretty penny to see in the fall. The trees cast shimmering shadows on the road and her car in a windblown ballet.
The house itself was equally awe inspiring. Two-story Victorian, it was registered with the historic society as one
