23. Rory

CHAPTER 23

RORY

“ W hat the fuck do you know?”

“Wha–”

Even though I was bigger and younger than Al, I didn’t hold back with my push. I dug my fingers into his upper chest and threw him back. He stumbled into the brick wall on the side of his building. I at least had the good sense to wait until we were back at his place to start slinging accusations.

“What the fuck?” he yelled. “Have you lost your mind?”

“You have to know something! You were dating this crazy woman! Why did your girlfriend kidnap Katrina, huh?”

“I swear to God, I don’t know anything!” He put his hands up in the air. “Why would I let Missy do something like this if I knew ahead of time?”

“You could’ve been in on it!”

“No way!” He scoffed. “You have no idea what you’re even saying. Katrina—she’s— she’s like a daughter to me. I know I haven’t known her very long, but I care about her. I would never do anything to hurt her.” His voice was hoarse from emotion, and there were tears in his eyes. “I don’t—I mean—why would Missy do something like this?”

“You tell me,” I snarled.

“Rory,” he said sternly. “I didn’t have anything to do with this. You have to believe me. I’m just as upset as you are.”

Not a chance.

I held his gaze for a few seconds and then turned away, scowling. He was telling the truth, I could tell, but I was still having a hard time looking at him just then. “Fine. Then tell me everything you know about her.”

“Very little,” he admitted. “We’d only really gone out on a few dates. She spent the night a couple of times, but it was all innocent. We were taking things really slow, actually. She told me her name was Melissa Rochester, for what that’s worth. She told me to call her Missy, and that’s the only name I ever heard her use with anyone else.”

“When did she get to town?”

“Around the same time that Katrina did.”

“Did she follow Katrina here to Solara Bay, you think?”

“Why would she?”

I frowned. “Did Katrina ever talk to you about her parents?”

Al shook his head.

“Did she ever say anything about a woman named Daphne Pearl? Or did Melissa ever mention someone by that name?”

Al looked at me, totally confused. “What? No. I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think so?” I snapped at him.

“You have to understand!” Al shouted. “I had no reason to question what she said, or to pay that close attention even. We didn’t even talk about anything serious. Like I said, we only hung out a few times. In that time, Melissa never said anything that I found to be remotely suspicious. I really had no idea that she was… someone who would do something like this. Do you think I would’ve continued to see her if I did?” He covered his face with his hands and started sobbing. “Oh God, Katrina! I will never forgive myself if something were to happen to her.”

Al suddenly fell into hysterics and I knew I needed to move on from this line of thinking. He didn’t have any information for me, and standing here, barking up the wrong tree, was a waste of time.

“You have to call the police.”

“Huh?”

“Call the cops,” I repeated. “Tell them what we think happened and have them come review the footage. You get the ball rolling from that side of things, okay?”

He slowly drew his hands up and frowned at me. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go find her.”

“How?”

“I have a plan, but if I were to tell you about it, you would never believe me. It’s just easier if you don’t ask questions. Do you have something of Missy’s? Something she wore?”

“I—I have a t-shirt she left here, yeah,” he said.

“Go get it and meet me in the backyard.” I darted around the corner before he could ask any questions, taking the stairs up to the apartment two at a time. Once inside, I grabbed the jeans I’d seen Daphne wearing tonight when I dropped by the first time. They smelled strongly of her. I threw the fabric over one shoulder and ran back to the yard. A few seconds later, Al came down his patio steps with a little white t-shirt in hand.

“What do you need this for?”

“There’s no time to explain,” I said. “Call me if you learn anything new, and let me know what the cops say.”

“But—”

“Just do it, Al!” I said harshly. “That’s how you can help right now. Let me take care of the rest.”

He stared at me for a second, perhaps trying to figure me out even though he was never going to. Then he nodded and stepped back. “Okay then. I’ll call the cops.”

“Good man.” I offered him a friendly look, although I couldn’t quite muster up a smile given the circumstances. Then I turned and took off running home.

For the second time in less than an hour, I came barreling through the front door of the house like a bat out of hell. Nobody was in the living room, however, so I had to gather everyone downstairs by screaming up the stairwell.

“Wake up! All of you, wake up! Get down here! It’s an emergency!”

In the kitchen, I grabbed the car keys and waited impatiently as my friends trickled in, rubbing their eyes.

“What the fuck is going on?” Nic said before being taken over by a yawn. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Yeah, I have to teach in the morning,” said Matt. “So, whatever this is, make it quick.”

Cornelius didn’t say anything, but he’d joined the party, which was enough for me.

“Katrina—Daphne—whatever her name is—she’s been kidnapped,” I said. “I went back to her apartment and found the door open and the place empty.”

“Wha—”

“It was Al’s psycho girlfriend,” I said, cutting Nic off. “She and someone else drugged Daphne and took her from the apartment, and we have to find her. I tried to pick up on their scent, but I wasn’t able to get much. Here.” I put the articles of clothing on the table. “I brought these back so you all could try. Can you see if you get anything? Even a vague direction would be helpful so that I’m not running all over the fucking state looking for her.”

“I’m so confused. You said she was kidnapped?” Nic stared at me with a shocked expression. “When?”

“A few hours ago.”

“Why?”

“I have no fucking idea! Why does anyone kidnap anyone?”

She folded her arms. “I mean, does this have anything to do with her being a werewolf?”

“Or maybe her parents?” suggested Matt. “Maybe Nic’s idea that she was possibly going to help her parents get back into the States was right.”

“Maybe, I don’t know. We don’t have time to speculate. I need your guys’ help. Please.” I locked eyes with Cornelius. “You’re the best tracker out of all of us. Can you please just see if you get anything in the air? I know you don’t approve of?—”

“Of what?” he said, walking up to the table and picking up the shirt. “Approve of your relationship with this woman? That’s not true. I’m glad you found someone who makes you happy. And no matter how I feel about her or other people meddling in magic they shouldn’t—that doesn’t mean I wish this person ill will. Of course, I’ll help.”

He brought the shirt to his nose and breathed in. “Take me to where you last saw her.”

I nodded. “Got it. Come with me.” I went for the back door but paused when I realized everyone was following me. “What are you doing?”

“We’re coming too,” Nic said.

“Yeah, otherwise, you woke us up for no reason.”

“I woke everyone up because I wasn’t sure Cornelius would help me pick up the scent,” I said. “But I don’t want you all to come looking for her with me. It could be dangerous.”

Nic laughed as she tugged a sweater over her shoulders. “That’s exactly why we’re coming, you moron.”

“Yeah,” Matt said with a smile. “We’re not going to let you have all the fun without us.”