| |
When his Droid rang on the way down the lift, Dante glanced at the screen indicating a private number and answered it, even though the reception in the elevator often sucked. “Vega, here,” he said, in clipped tones.
“Dante?”
“Yeah. Who’s this?” Dante asked, thankful he could somewhat hear the guy. “And speak up. I’m in an elevator. I might lose you.”
“What? I can’t hear you.”
Shit. “Speak up. Elevator.”
“Okay, now I’ve got you. It’s Simon. Kennedy’s brother.”
Two thoughts immediately competed in his brain. She’s at her brothers. Thank God. And Great. Another lecture. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m not sure. Is Kennedy with you?”
“No. So, she isn’t with you?” He swiped his face with his hand, fearing the answer.
“No.”
His screen flashed, indicating another call. “Stay put. It’s Jim Ballo. Maybe he knows something.” He slid the connection over to Jim. “Find anything?”
“Only her phone. No signs of her at the apartment.”
“Where’d you find the phone?”
“On the sidewalk, outside the massive truck-sized door to the back of the sanctuary. It’s the area where we load and unload the animals.”
“The door to the back? Christ. Look in the call log. Who called her? You look. I’ll be right back. Her brother’s on the other line.”
“Got it. Go.”
The doors to the lift slid open. “Simon? Still there?”
“Yeah, still here. She called me. Told me you two were dating. Told me a scandal might appear in the news and not to believe everything.”
“Look, Simon, I don’t need a talking to right now. I can’t find Kennedy. I’m worried. Someone broke into her apartment yesterday and left her a threatening note.”
“Hell. I didn’t call you to lecture you. I think they’re making good on their threat.”
Dante stopped, mid-stride. “Why would you say that?”
The doorman gave him a quizzical expression.
Dante nodded, indicating he needed a taxi. He planned on calling the police, telling them about the found phone, Simon’s call, and then.... then, what?
“We were talking, and she suddenly cut off. I heard a strange sound. Kennedy let out a groan and then...” Simon’s voice cracked, revealing his surface control splintering. “She, uh...nothing. I heard nothing.”
“Shit.” Dante wondered if his heart would give way, clench into an explosion and detonate. “Okay. I’ve still got Jim on the other line. I’ll call you if I find out anything.”
“Please don’t let anything happen to her.”
“Not if I can help it. Text me your number.” Dante slid the connection to Jim. “Anything?”
Still going through Kennedy’s phone log. A private number,” Jim said excitedly. “Maybe it’s a clue.”
“It was probably her brother.”
“What do we do?”
“I’m contacting the police. Straight away. Meet me at the sanctuary. At your place. I don’t know what we’ll do, but...” He’d never felt more helpless in his life. Nothing, not money, not status, not fame could help him.
“I’m heading there right now. I’ll be there in ten.”
“Okay, meet you there.”
When Dante arrived at the Heights sanctuary, the police had already arrived.
Jim stood near a gate along a tall brick wall that encircled the tiger keep, talking animatedly. He held a piece of paper against the wall and kept pointing to it.
Dante hustled over. “Hey.”
Jim lifted his head. “Hey. I’m trying to explain what’s back there to these gentlemen.” He pointed at the map pressed against the bricks. “This is a diagram of the entire place. See this?”
Dante and the others nodded.
“On the other side of this vehicle access gate, there’s a dirt road for our service vehicles. We use the road to patrol the area, inspect the fences, feed the beasts...things like that. It surrounds about forty acres. We call it the ‘Back Forty.’ It connects with the fenced complex in the center, where the tigers stay upon arrival for rehab and assessment.
“Once they’ve gone through rehab, they’re allowed in larger cages surrounding the main complex. The cats that are deemed ‘safe’ are later let into the acreage back there. They get to roam and interact with others of their kind. We’ve got pools, grass, rocks, trees, free-standing branches for them to climb. It’s a place of ultimate sanctuary for them.”
“Might she have been taken back there?” Officer McGlasson asked.
“Doubt it. We’re building a twenty-five-foot tall walkway for public viewing that surrounds the fields. There are workmen back there frequently.”
“So what does that mean?” Dante asked.
“It means we don’t know a damn thing,” Jim said. “No way could she be back there. Simply put, based on finding her phone out here, on the sidewalk, we don’t have a clue where she is.”
