Page 102 of Worth the Fall

When I spotted Mr. Gonzales at the concierge, I asked him if he’d seen Clara anywhere.

“No, Miss Brooklyn, haven’t seen her, but I’ll keep an eye out.”

“Mrs. G, have you seen Clara?” I shouted toward his wife, who was manning the front desk, as I tried to hide the panic building inside me.

“Not since she was with you,” she answered, and my chest filled with dread.

There was no sign of her.

Practically jogging into Mr. O’Grady’s office, I asked his assistant if she’d seen Clarabel anywhere, to which she responded with a resounding no.

And by the time I reached Thomas, I was out of breath and downright terrified.

“Thomas, is Clara in here?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“No. Why?”

“I can’t find her.”

“What do you mean, you can’t find her?” His eyebrows pulled together in a mixture of confusion and concern.

“She’s gone,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

SHE’S GONE

THOMAS

When Brooklyn ran into my office, her face flushed, eyes filled with water and what looked like terror, I was momentarily confused.

Until she said the words, “She’s gone.”

Now, they were all I heard, repeating in my head on a loop.

She’s gone. She’s gone. She’s gone.

“What do you mean, she’s gone?” I pushed up from my desk and swore my heart had stopped beating.