Her phone.
I stilled and dialed.
It rang on my end. I craned my neck and listened carefully for a ringtone.
Rinnggg.
I ran toward the sound on the edge of the park. The lit screen glowed up ahead. Her cracked phone danced across the sidewalk. I swiped it off the ground and whirled around, frantically searching for her.
“Pepper!”
I looked under charred bushes nearby. Maybe she’d fallen and hit her head. I checked a bench a few yards away. Behind a dumpster.
I swallowed hard as I lifted the lid to the dumpster. I shined a light inside. Just garbage, thank God.
“Damn it.” I threw my hands up.
Anything could’ve happened.
My mind went to the worst-case scenario and instinct backed it up.
I’d buy she simply dropped her phone if the dogs hadn’t showed back up to the rescue without her.
That was the biggest troubling sign.
It pointed to something sinister. Something I didn’t want to think about.
Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I yanked it out but deflated when Lincoln’s name flashed on the screen.
“Where are you? We just got home and you’re not here.”
I plowed a hand through my hair. “Pepper’s missing.” I didn’t want to say the words out loud. The more I spoke them, the truer they became.
“What?”
“I’m near Grey Paws looking for her.” I peered into the darkness and held Pepper’s phone like it was a lifeline.
“We’re on our way.”
Before I could protest, he hung up.
“Should we call the police?”
Beau wrapped her hands around a mug of tea and propped herself against the reception desk.
“It won’t matter. She hasn’t been missing long enough.” I paced in front of the windows, back and forth, almost wearing a hole in the flooring.
“Anyone could’ve grabbed her.” Miss Adeline stared at her lap.
“How are we so sure someone took her?” Lincoln asked, ever the voice of reason.
“Because she wouldn’t have let go of those dogs for anything,” she snapped. “And her cell phone was on the ground. I don’t think she threw it there and decided to run away.”
Her shoulders slumped as she sagged farther down in the chair.
Beau placed a hand on her arm in comfort. “This might be an odd question, but is there someone who might have it out for either of you? Or the rescue?”
The old woman cut her eyes to my sister. “Let’s see. Our latest list of enemies could be the track in Jersey we just took all their dogs from. Or maybe that horrible inspector who’s trying to shut us down. But it could’ve been some random crazy person.”
“Has anything like this ever happened before?” Lincoln asked.
She waved her hand. “Eh. We’ve had the occasional threats, but mostly it’s been all bark and no bite. Until recently.”
Until I came into the picture.
That guy at the track was a possibility, and he would’ve been angry whether I was around or not.
But the inspector? The guy who made them scramble to find another place for over half their dogs?
That one was on me.
Because of . . .
“Where’s Dad?” I froze and stared at my brother.
He stared back, his expression unreadable. “He wouldn’t be stupid enough to kidnap Pepper.”
How could Lincoln take up for him, knowing what a monster he was? Knowing what he’d done to Pepper and Miss Adeline.
“He was in his office when we left,” Beau said, almost apologetic. “You don’t think . . .”
“I absolutely think he’s capable of this.” And if anything happened to Pepper because of him, I’d never forgive myself.
“What good does it do for him to take Pepper? And we don’t even know for sure that she was taken.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” I threw my hands up.
“I want to find Pepper too. But we need to think clearly.”
Easy for him to say. I could barely think at all. My mind was all tangled up in possibilities and worst-case scenarios. Now that the seed had been planted, my father was at the center of every single one of those thoughts.
“Call him.” I pointed at my brother.
He pulled out his phone and dialed without hesitation. My emotions were mixing up my ability to reason clearly. Lincoln was on my side. Always. He simply didn’t jump to conclusions as he puzzled things out.
He held the device up to his ear.
We waited.
And waited.
And waited.
“He’s not answering.”
Chapter Three
Pepper
“Well, well, well. She’s awake.”
The voice sounded far off in the distance.
I blinked my eyes open and found I was still shrouded in darkness.
Are the dogs okay?
For a moment, I listened. No dogs barking. No hushed whispers. No footsteps.
Only silence.
Please let them be safe.
I prayed Muffy, Sadie, and Ash had escaped unharmed and made it to safety.
The dark was disorienting. I had no concept of time and very little of the space surrounding me.
My hands were on my lap. I moved them, expecting resistance yet finding none. I stretched my legs and found the same.
I wasn’t restrained.
With my newfound freedom—sort of—I tugged on whatever was over my head.
Dim light blinded me.
I squinted, impatiently waiting for my eyes to adjust.
The floor was concrete and cracked. I was seated in a metal chair. It was impossible to see beyond the circle of light illuminating the immediate area surrounding me.
Click. Click. Click.
Footsteps approached. Dress shoes with tassels were visible first. Then the suit pants and a long cashmere coat.
And the face that was so familiar yet a stranger.
I was stunned once again how on one man these features meant protection and security, while on the other they were terrifying.
“I don’t like that it’s come to this.”
I snorted. Samuel Hollingsworth seemed to thrive on intimidation.
“Let’s not bother with innuendo.”
I remained silent as he stepped closer. One half of his face was bathed in light, the other in the dark.
“You’re in a unique position, Pepper.” Something about the way he said my name sent a chill skittering down my spine. “You alone hold the power to get me what I want.”
He walked a slow circle around me. I sat statue still, hoping I’d wake up and this would all be a nightmare.
“But I too hold the power to let you keep what you want.”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart beat so loudly in my ears I could hardly hear his voice. I had zero doubt he’d take away everything I loved without a second thought. He’d already proven that, considering over half my dogs weren’t at the rescue anymore.
He stopped in front of me and looked down. He tilted his head, those sinister eyes inscrutable.
“Interesting you haven’t asked me what I want,” he mused, almost as if he were curious as to why.
“I’m pretty sure you’re going to tell me. Otherwise, this whole charade would be pointless.”