Page 114 of Date With Danger

I’ve got to get to Amelia. My phone rings as I pull it out.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Caleb,” Maddie says, and only then do I realize I never looked at the caller ID. “Connor has been trying to get ahold of Amelia at the hotel but she hasn’t answered for a few hours. I told him she’s probably with you though, right?”

My brain grinds to a screeching halt. “What do you mean you can’t get ahold of her?”

“Well, aren’t you with her?” Maddie asks.

My heart drops to my stomach. “No, I’m at work. I left her at the hotel and told her to stay put.” Even as the words tumble from my lips I see the error in them. Amelia isn’t a dog. A dog would probably listen better. But where is Agent Fischer?

“I’ll find her,” I say to Maddie a second before hanging up and jumping to my feet. I hit Fischer’s number. It goes straight to voicemail. A cold fear sweeps through my body. I try again. Voicemail.

“No!” I shove my desk and pull up the number for the hotel.

“What’s going on?” Cruz is on my heels.

“Fischer is MIA. So is Amelia.” And it’s all my fault.

Chapter 47

Amelia

“Sorry, we’re closed.”

Liam’s bright blue eyes glow in the dark with something wicked and manic. He takes one look at the “weapons” in my hands and smirks.

Well, it was worth a shot.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, mustering all the confidence I can into my shaky voice.

“I believe you have something of mine.” He’s still the smooth-talking Liam women might throw themselves at, but there’s a desperation in his demeanor. A man with something at risk.

“If you want the dog sweaters back, you’ll have to call 1-800-Suck It.”

“Ah, Amelia, you are so fun.”

“I’d like to think so. Now where’s Leah?”

“Who?”

“The woman you’re holding hostage. I swear if you hurt even one hair on her head we are going to have words.”

He flashes me a British flirt kind of smile. “Are we not having words now?”

“Nope. Put that charming accent away. It won’t work on me, conman.”

He lifts an amused brow. “That is truly unfortunate; I was having such a good time with you.”

“Watch it, buddy.” I hold the hair dryer higher and he throws both hands up in front of him like I’m wielding a real weapon. “Now I want you to leave and call the police.” For my first time arguing with a criminal, I think I’m doing quite well. It’s all about confidence.

He laughs and drops his hands. “Why would I call the police?”

“To turn yourself in.”

“Turn myself in?” he rolls his lips, playing with the words like they are foreign. “But I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The lies these criminals tell themselves.

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