who was always on some weird diet had caused her to drop five pounds—five she didn’t need to lose. She was glad her usual clients were children.
She’d nearly finished her lunch when her cell rang. Bosco barked at the sound, sitting nearby and staring at her bag. Leaping to her feet, she retrieved her phone and answered it.
“This is Slade. I’m heading to Dawson Academy because I received another threat to Abbey at the office. A call on my private line. The school just phoned to tell me that they can’t locate Abbey. It’s lunchtime, and the students are scattered all over campus outside. I know she could be there somewhere, but I called Captain Dickerson to update him on the situation. He’s sending someone to meet me at the school.” Worry drenched his every word.
The beat of her heart slowed to a thud. “I’m not far away. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
As she slipped the cell into her pocket, she picked up her purse and started toward the front of the house.
“What’s wrong?” Joshua followed with her dog at his heels.
“Abbey’s missing at school.”
“I’d better come, too.”
At the door she pivoted and petted Bosco goodbye. “No, get to the ranch and make it safe. I’m hoping it’s nothing. It’s lunchtime and a beautiful day. When I went to school, we spread out all over campus for lunch. I gather from what Slade said that Dawson Academy is the same way.” She began to turn away but paused. “Oh, and will you pack a bag for me? Once we locate Abbey, I’ll be glued to her like she’s my new best friend.”
“Will do.”
Elizabeth hurried toward her car. Lord, don’t let anything happen to Slade’s daughter. Please protect her.
Slade pulled up to the school behind a patrol car and hopped out. He jogged to catch up with the two officers heading up the steps to the front entrance.
At the double doors into the school he said, “I’m Abbey Caulder’s father, Slade Caulder. Thanks for coming.”
“The captain filled us in on what has been going on with the threats,” the older police officer said. “I’m Sergeant Gibson.”
Slade entered the school behind the sergeant with the other policeman taking up the rear. After explaining who he was to the security guard and getting a laminated visitor badge, Slade quickly made his way toward the office to the right. The first thing he noticed when he came into the room was all the activity. The principal, Mr. Hartley, was on his cell, a frown on his face, nodding.
Slade headed for the man, whose expression indicated that Abbey hadn’t been found yet. Slade’s heart pounded so hard he felt breathless. When the man clicked off, he asked, “Have you found Abbey?” Fear caused a raspy edge in his voice.
The principal glanced at the officers, then directed his attention to Slade. “No. The security guards and some of the teachers are searching the grounds and having the students come inside early. They should be heading to their next class. The teachers have been informed and have returned to their classrooms.”
“Have you made an announcement over the PA system?”
“No. Most of the students aren’t in the building yet. They were spread out because of lunch.”
Anger and frustration surged through Slade. He gritted his teeth and started to count to ten. He made it to three. “Make an announcement for Abbey to come to the office. Maybe she’s in the building by now.”
The man paled. “I’ll do that, then make another one in five minutes.” He moved toward the counter to the left.
“Slade, have they found Abbey?”
He spun around and saw Elizabeth threading her way toward him through the crowd in the office. The sight of her brought a momentary wave of relief. “No.”
The announcement instructing Abbey Caulder to report to the main office blasted through the building.
When Mr. Hartley returned, Slade said, “I would like to search, too, with Ms. Walker here.” He gestured toward Elizabeth, who stood next to him.
“Fine. Our assistant principal can accompany you.” Mr. Hartley waved toward a middle-aged woman who joined them. “Mr. Caulder and Ms. Walker will join the search for Abbey. Please accommodate them any way you can.”
Sergeant Gibson stepped forward. “In the meantime, I want to talk to the head of your security, Abbey’s last-hour teacher and any of her friends you can locate.”
Slade followed the assistant principal out of the office, aware of Elizabeth a few feet behind him. If anything happened to Abbey… The thought chilled him. Exigency spurred him to quicken his pace as swarms of students began entering the building, jamming the hallway.
“Let’s check her next class first,” the assistant principal said and headed down a corridor to the left.
Slade scanned the faces of the kids. A sense of urgency charged the air. Slade kept surveying the people as he passed them. No Abbey. Each passing girl that wasn’t his daughter made his heart pound a shade faster, hammering him with a fear he’d never experienced before: of losing his child. He forced air into his oxygen-starved lungs.
The assistant principal stopped at a classroom and spoke to a teacher standing at the door as students filed inside.
The instructor shook her head, then peered at him. “Abbey hasn’t come inside yet. I’ve asked a few of her friends if they have seen her, and no one has.”
“Thanks.” He barely got the word out between parched lips.
Sweat beaded his brow. The press of people all around him prodded the fear forward to dominate all physical responses. He surveyed the students near him. His gaze latched on to Abbey’s best friend zigzagging through the crowd.
“Lily, I need to talk to you,” he shouted over the noise of the teens in the hallway.
The sixteen-year-old looked wide-eyed from him to Elizabeth, then to the assistant principal. “Mr. C, why are they looking for Abbey?”
“I came to pick up Abbey. Do you know where she is?”
Her eyebrows knitted together. “Is something wrong? The security guards are looking for her, and now we’re having to come in early.”
“She’s needed at home right now.” And maybe for the rest of her life. I don’t want to let her out of my sight. His heart continued to throb against his chest.
“We were supposed to meet for lunch in our usual place, but she didn’t show up. Has something happened at home?”
For a few seconds, words clogged his throat. He swallowed several times before he could speak again. “When was the last time you spoke with her?” he asked, ignoring Lily’s question because he didn’t really have a good answer.
“Right before our last class. I have algebra. She has English.”
“Was she okay?”
“She
