Turn Over

“It’s a girl.” I pulled up a picture of Sydney on the beach. “I brought her with me to Dallas this morning. She might be headed back to South Padre.”

The older man eyed the picture. “Pretty thing.”

“Yes, gorgeous. And I have no idea where she is.”

“Why is she missin’?” He eyed me.

“She’s upset.” I paused. “With me.” It didn’t seem to faze James. He only wanted details if they would help him find Sydney. “She was at the office and got some news. She took off and no one knows where she went.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard to find her.” He pulled out a small notebook from his starched jeans. “I need her number.”

I wrote it for him. “And that’s it?”

He grinned. “Pretty much.”

I felt like I could breathe again. He rose to leave. “James, I have another project for you.”

“What’s that?” He tucked the notepad behind his wallet.

“Do you think you could find someone who didn’t want to be found?”

He played with the inside brim of his hat. “Sure could. Who doesn’t want to be found?”

“I don’t know much, but I can give you what I have.” I motioned for the notepad again.

I jotted down Hailey’s and Gracie’s names. The town in Virginia where they lived. Anything I could remember Sydney telling me about her sister. I handed my notes to James.

“You have unlimited hours on both of these. Sydney is the most important right now, but as soon as you’ve found here I want you to start looking for Hailey. I know it might take a while.”

“Will do.” He fixed the Stetson on top of his head. I admired a man who could wear a hat like that.

“I’ll be here. I’m not going to leave Dallas until I know where Sydney is.” I decided if she went home she would be safe and I could fly out later. If for some reason she had stuck around the city, I couldn’t leave her here by herself.

It was a strange instinct that kicked in when she was around. I had this need to protect her. To keep the bad out. To keep the hurt and danger far from her. Only today I had failed. I had done it all wrong.

I closed the door behind James. I tried her number one more time, but I got the same result. She was sending me a clear message. I had to figure out how to send her one.

I circled the apartment, checking my phone after I did a few laps. I turned on the business channel, then flipped it to the weather channel. There was a storm brewing in the Gulf. It didn’t look bad, but it was enough to have me worry if Sydney was in its path. I sank into the leather couch, angry, nervous, frustrated. She was out there somewhere and I was in here.

I couldn’t help her from here. I couldn’t do a damn thing but wait for James.

I checked the pantry for food, but I rarely cooked and the only thing that was meal-worthy was a box of pasta. I slammed the door, knowing I didn’t really want to eat anyway. I turned back to the TV, watching the swirling storm edging closer to South Padre.

It was close to eight before I had a call from James. I answered immediately, my heart thumping loud and strong when his number flashed on the screen.

“She’s back in South Padre, Mason.” James didn’t rush the delivery of information.

“And you’re sure?” The searing pain between my ribs finally subsided.

“I got a ping off her phone about thirty seconds ago. She’s on the island.”

I scratched my head. At first glance you wouldn’t think James would know what a ping is. He looked like the kind of guy who would meet you in the street for a six-draw shootout, but he had access to technology and equipment that boggled my mind.

“Thank, God. I’m taking the next flight out.” I grabbed my jacket from the back of the couch and turned off the lights as I walked through the penthouse.

“Sure thing. And I’ll be in touch about the sister. That one is going to take me a little longer, but I’ll work on it for you.”

“Thanks, James.” I didn’t care about the extra clothes I wanted to pack. I slammed the door behind me, ready to take down anyone in my way between here and South Padre.