Katie stood and walked toward them. Noah met her in front of the stage. “What is it? You’re all acting weird and being super secretive.”
“Can you call Jordan?” Noah asked.
“Why?”
“We need to know where he is and I’m sure if he’s got his phone on the Do Not Disturb setting for whatever reason, he’ll have it programmed so that you’ll ring right through.”
A door slammed in the back and laughter reached them.
“Let’s move out of the auditorium,” Sophie said. “People are starting to arrive and we’ll have more privacy in the room next door.”
She led the way into a room that held three sofas and a couple of chairs. A full kitchen dominated the back wall to allow for catered events. All of this registered in a nanosecond before they surrounded Katie and waited for her to dial Jordan’s number.
With a frown, Katie did as requested, listened for a moment, then hung up. “It went straight to voice mail.” Her eyes darted from one brother to the next.
Sophie’s nerves tightened, and Katie’s gaze landed on hers. Sophie knew what her friend was thinking. Jordan never turned off his phone. Ever. And if for some reason, he decided to do so, he’d let someone know in advance. Especially in case Katie needed to reach him.
“He’s not answering her either,” Noah murmured. “I don’t believe this. This isn’t good.”
“I have the password to his phone, so I can track it,” Katie said. “He always wants me to be able to locate him if I need to. I’ve never used it before. I’ve never had to.”
“Then I’d say this would be a good time to do it,” Luke said. “Do you mind seeing what you can find out?”
“Of course.” She punched in the digits, then lifted her gaze to meet his and the others who’d gathered around her.
“What is it?” Luke asked. “Can you tell us where he is?”
“Something’s wrong. It says his phone’s offline, but it shouldn’t be. He’s never offline.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’m starting to get really scared. What’s going on?”
Carter shook his head. “We don’t know, but I’ve had enough standing around. I’m going to look for him.”
“Me, too,” Zach said.
“I’m coming, too.” Noah shoved his phone back on his clip and planted his hands on his hips. “But before we run out of here all hasty and unorganized, let’s get a plan of action together.”
Of course that would be Noah’s first thought.
“Wait a minute,” Katie said.
They froze.
“I don’t understand.” Katie crossed her arms. “Can someone please explain to me why you’re going to look for Jordan when he should have walked through the door way before now?” Katie asked, her voice containing a slightly hysterical edge. “And then tell me why he would have his phone turned off because if you can’t, then something’s really, really wrong.” Worry drew lines across her forehead and at the corners of her mouth. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I know I keep saying that, but I need to know where he is and if he’s okay. And you guys know something you’re not telling me. Now, please, what is it?”
Sophie bit her lip. “We found a note that seems to indicate he’s in trouble. Everyone is getting ready to go search for him.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“We’re not sure, but we’re going to find out,” Zach said. He put an arm around his sister-in-law’s shoulders. “Let’s go over here a second so we can talk.”
Noah and Carter joined the two off to the side, and Katie gave a sharp cry. Sophie figured they’d told her the contents of the note. Ignoring the need to rush over and comfort her friend, she turned to the others. “Just so I’m clear, I don’t believe Jordan wrote that note for one second, but we can’t take the chance that it’s not real. We have to act as though he did and that he means it.”
Luke nodded. “I agree. But where do we start looking?”
Zach and Katie had returned in time to hear her comment. Katie shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “He wouldn’t kill himself. He didn’t leave that note!”
“We know,” Sophie said. She faced Katie and took her friend’s hands. “We don’t believe it either. Something else is going on and we’re going to find out, okay?”
“Yes. Yes, we are.” Katie lifted her chin and swiped her hands over her face.
“The guy who snatched me was messing with the folder when I walked in,” Sophie said. “Maybe he put the note in there.”
“If that’s the case, then we need to find Jordan immediately,” Luke said.
Katie nodded. “Exactly, So, what’s the plan?”
“Was Jordan headed straight here when he left this morning?”
“No,” she sniffed. “He was going to take Snapper out to the Vanderbilt Parkway and run part of the bike path, then go to headquarters to shower and change before coming over here.”
“Vanderbilt Parkway,” Luke said. Also known as the Long Island Motor Parkway. A big part of New York’s history, it was a great place to run or ride bikes now that automobiles were banned from it—and he knew it was part of Jordan’s daily routine. “Then that’s where we’ll look first.”
“We need to check any of his favorite places, as well,” Sophie said.
“He had a lot of favorite places,” Katie said. “Not all of them are in Queens.”
Luke nodded. “Then we’re going to need more manpower. Someone call Gavin and fill him in on what’s going on.”
“Today’s his day off,” Sophie said, picturing the tall, dark-haired, brown-eyed handler. Gavin Sutherland was another K-9 officer. His Springer spaniel was well-trained to sniff out explosives. And while they may not need Tommy for that reason, she knew as well as Luke did that Gavin would never forgive them if they didn’t include him in the search for their boss. “We’ll also need to get a BOLO out on Jordan and get his face in front of people as well as notify officers in all the boroughs to be watching for him.”
“No,” Katie said.
Carter raised a brow. “No?”
“You know Jordan. He’d hate that. There’s got to be some other way.”
“But we need to find him fast,” Noah said. “In order to do that, we need as many eyes looking for him as possible.”
“But—”
“They’re right, Katie,” Sophie said softly. “I’m sorry, but they are. I’d rather live with his anger than something really be wrong and we not pull out all
