“Oh,” I said softly. “I didn’t realize he had a bike here.”
“He keeps it in the garage,” she replied, pointing to the detached building that I’d had no reason to enter during our stay here.
Even though I knew Cade would want me to stay put until he contacted me, I also knew that I couldn’t stand around and do nothing until I knew that Alani and her friend were safe. So, I turned to Cade’s mom and asked, “Can I borrow the keys to the 4Runner?”
She put out her hand and turned it over, revealing the keys in her palm.
“I trust in my son and his abilities, and he’s told me how good you are at your job. Bring my babies home,” she said, and my eyes filled.
I grabbed the keys, then, on impulse, leaned in and gave her a quick hug.
“I will,” I promised, just before hopped in the 4Runner and took off.
It didn’t take long for me to realize the error of my ways. Sure, back home I could hop in my car and take off after the bad guys, no problem. I knew where things were, I knew where to go to get leads, etc … Here, in Hawaii, I didn’t know shit.
Since Cade was already long gone by the time I braved the hill and got onto the main road, I couldn’t follow him, and I had no idea where he was going. To the MC? Chris’s bar? Who knew … not me.
I also had no idea where Alani was. It’s not like she’d go to Hannah’s house if Hannah was missing, not that I knew where Hannah lived anyway.
The only thing I could do was go back to where it all began, again, and hope to find another clue, or Alani, once I got there.
I parked in what was becoming my regular spot, threw one quick, longing glance at the bakery, and headed to the back stairs. Alani’s car wasn’t in the parking lot, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t there. For all I knew there was an underground parking garage, or back lot that I wasn’t aware of.
That’s what I was hoping, anyway.
I made my way quickly up the stairs and opened the door into the hallway, which was once again empty. I tried the handle of the door we’d entered through last time, and swore under my breath when it didn’t give.
Sighing, I turned my head, right, then left, ensuring I was still alone, then walked quietly down to the door where we’d found the back office, and tried it. When it turned, I mentally shouted with glee, even as my stomach dipped in anticipation.
Will I find someone inside this time?
I bit back the fear that question arose and slowly opened the door to reveal the still-empty room. With one last look over my shoulder, I entered the space and closed the door behind me. Keeping my ears tuned for any semblance of sound, I strode quickly across the room and down the small hallway, past the bathroom, to the office space.
When I was satisfied it was empty, I stepped to the desk and opened the drawer that held the journals.
It was empty.
“Fuck,” I muttered, then nearly crapped my pants when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I turned with a screech, hand raised in a karate chop motion, then stomped my foot when I saw Alani standing behind me.
“You scared the shit out of me,” I chastised, then smiled when I saw the journals in her hand.
“What were you doing?” she asked, somehow managing to still sound sarcastic in the way only teenagers can, even though we were in the midst of a crisis.
“Looking for those,” I replied, gesturing to the books.
“No, with your hand…” she said, raising her hand to mimic my karate chop.
“Shut up,” I said, choosing to ignore the fact that in the face of danger, I’d obviously forgotten everything Bran had taught me in self-defense class. Then I changed the subject and asked, “Where were you, anyway? I didn’t see you when I came in.”
“Hiding in the bathroom.”
Note to self, check the bathroom next time…
“Give me those,” I said, taking the one I remembered finding the number in last time and flipping through it. “Have you heard from Hannah?”
Alani’s face crumbled and she shook her head.