Page 34 of Fearless Encounter

Dwaine maintained his professional demeanor and refocused the conversation on the investigation. “Our priority is to find Meghan and ensure her safe return. We will cooperate fully with your investigation and provide any resources you need. She’s a valuable employee, but also a friend. Her disappearance is distressing, and I confess that it’s a mystery. I’ve privately questioned our team and didn’t come up with any more than you have.”

Abe placed his card on the desk then stood. “If you think of anything else, please contact us.”

“Absolutely,” Dwaine said. “And I would appreciate it if you’d keep me informed of your progress.”

Once outside, Gabriel said, “That was all too perfect. A key employee is missing. There’s clearly something going on.”

“Agreed,” Abe said. “You noticed Daniel pointing the finger at his boss?”

“Yeah, and I’m not buying it.” Gabriel wasn’t sure about Daniel, so planned to keep an eye on him. Then he thought of Brooke and of what he was going to tell her. She was counting on him to unravel this mess and find her close friend healthy and unharmed. But unless he hustled, that wouldn’t happen.

Chapter 10

Brooke woke up to silence. It took her a minute to remember where she was. A glance at the clock on the side table told her that Gabriel must have already left for his appointment with Abe. Her thoughts went to the night before, and her heart swelled with emotion. It was increasingly challenging to stay in Gabriel’s home. He’d succeeded in making himself irresistible.

The alarm was just about to go off anyway, so Brooke went to the kitchen for coffee. It didn’t take her long to get ready, and she’d convinced Gabriel that she could call Uber for a ride to work. He didn’t need to arrange her transportation every morning.

At the restaurant, Brooke dived into her tasks. She didn’t feel chatty. Her mind was on Meg and what in the world she could do to help her. Hopefully, Gabriel would come up with something at Capstone. Or possibly Weston would get more definitive information. It was difficult to fathom that a criminal could scoop her friend off a public street and be so damn hard to find.

After opening for lunch, Brooke peeked out to the main dining area to see how busy they were, so she could judge how much dessert to make. Quite a few tables were occupied. Scanning the room, she saw a few regular customers plus new ones. The restaurant was popular with tourists.

Then Brooke froze. She stared longer than she should have, then stepped back to catch her breath. She put her hand to her throat, her heart pounding. “It’s him,” she said, hardly realizing that she spoke out loud.

Lisle glided by then stopped and took a step closer to Brooke. “Him?”

Brooke looked at her friend but couldn’t find her voice.

“Who?” Lisle waited.

“It’s the guy, the one I saw in the alley.”

Lisle’s eyes widened. “The abductor?”

Brooke nodded. He was the same build, tall, muscular. And his expression was intense. Plus, he had come to the restaurant alone, making her suspect his intent.

Lisle stepped toward the swinging doors and slipped her camera out of her pocket. She peeked out and was back in a flash. “I think I got him. The dude who is alone—the one that looks like kinda scary?”

When Lisle showed Brooke the picture, she nodded and felt suddenly dizzy. What if he came through the kitchen doors and saw her? That wouldn’t happen, yet fear overcame her certainty.

“Text that to Gabriel.” Lisle tapped on her phone as Brooke gave her the phone number.

Then Brooke texted an urgent message for Gabriel to come to the restaurant. He would understand.

“Should we call the police?” Lisle said.

Brooke shook her head. “Abe is with him today. I just hope they get here fast.”

Lisle went out to the dining room, pretending to clear a table. She returned quickly. “He’s gone.”

“Damn it,” Brooke said. She was hugely relieved but conflicted. It would have been better for Abe to arrest him.

“I went out to the street,” Lisle said, “but there was no sign of him.”

Noticing the disturbance, Jasper came by. “Is something going on?”

Brooke waved him to his office, and Lisle followed. He needed to know, so she told him more about the incident she’d witnessed then about the man she’d spotted in the dining room.

Jasper looked worried. “It was definitely the same guy?”