“No, Sheldon.”
Denton and Mena were waiting on the curb, and I heard Denton saying, “Okay. Thank you.”
Bryce set me down, but I stayed close to him. My hands were on his biceps. I said in a low voice, “We should wait.”
His hands lingered on my hips. “I feel weird, too. We need to get you home. I’ll come back for him, if you want me to.”
Did I?
I was torn at that idea, letting Bryce go off on his own. My eyebrows furrowed forward, and I frowned. Then I sighed. “You stay with Corrigan, and I’ll go home with Denton and Mena.”
“You sure?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Okay.” He turned to Denton. “You okay with that plan?”
“Yeah. Are you sober?”
Bryce nodded. “I am. I can drive the car home.”
“Okay.” Denton took a set of keys out of his pocket. “I was just going to have my other driver come back for it, but here. Once you and Corrigan get back to the Alpha Mu house, just drive her home. Be safe.”
Bryce took the keys. “Thanks. I will.” His eyes met mine and a silent goodbye passed between us. As he left, heading back for the house, I said under my breath, “Be safe.”
Corrigan had a weird feeling. Bryce did too, and it must’ve been infectious. I pressed the palm of my hand to my stomach because I was feeling it, too.
Something was off, something we weren’t thinking about.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
We were pulling into Denton’s house when we saw the flare from the cops’ sirens. Two cars were behind us. They parked beside our car, and I was out before anyone else. My heart was in my throat. The drive to Denton’s house was thirty minutes. Something could’ve happened to Bryce or Corrigan.
When Officer Patterson got out of the second squad car, I went over to her. “Sheila?”
There were lines of exhaustion around her mouth and bags under her eyes. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. There were strands that had fallen out. I sucked in my breath. Something had happened.
No, no. Not Bryce. Not Corrigan.
She held a hand up. “Before you jump to conclusions, we’re here looking for Bryce Scout.”
My heart started to pound. “He’s missing?”
She frowned. “He’s not with you?”
I glanced to the first squad car. The two detectives who had taken over my case were questioning Denton and Mena. The guy was studying Denton’s dress with an eyebrow twitch. Then the woman glanced over to us. Catching my gaze, she broke off and headed for us. As she stopped in front of me, her hand pushed back her coat and rested on her hip. Her badge and gun were there.
She looked at Sheila. “Scout?”
Sheila shook her head. “I just asked. Sheldon.” She held her hand up to get my attention. “We really need to see Bryce. Where is he?”
This wasn’t making sense. I pressed a hand to my forehead, feeling a headache forming. “You’re looking for Bryce? Did something happen to him?” Maybe he’d been taken? My anxiety kicked up a notch. “Did the killer take him?” My voice was a hoarse whisper at the end.
I couldn’t lose him. I couldn’t lose either of them.
She started rubbing between her eyes, the bridge of her nose. “Wait a minute here. So, you’re saying Bryce isn’t here?”
“Isn’t he why you’re here?”