Page 81 of Cage

Was that how Katie might have viewed Cage?

‘I’m such a fucking strict asshole,’ Cage said, banging his fist on the kitchen table. ‘Who the hell would want to be around me? It’s no wonder she ran away. Fuck!’

Cage’s head was spinning.

He didn’t know which was more likely.

Whether Katie had run away or been taken by someone else.

It was like his calm and rational detective brain had deserted him at precisely the worst moment.

Cage needed to focus.

He needed to gather his thoughts and work out what the hell he should do.

Cage knew the police department was overworked in the extreme. Even calling in some favors he wouldn’t be able to get this off the ground right away. Katie was an adult after all. She wasn’t obligated to tell Cage where she was. There was no way this would qualify as a missing person’s case just yet.

Maybe the trouble with the stalker might mean Cage could leverage some earlier than usual investigations. But even that was nowhere near enough. Not even close.

Cage didn’t have time to wait.

And neither did Katie.

Cage decided to contact Katie again.

But this time he would send a message rather than call.

Cage: Katie. It’s me. Cage. Daddy. I’m sorry about making you do those lines. If you don’t ever want to see me again, it’s fine. I get it. Honestly, I do. I just need to know you’re safe. That’s all. Please.

Cage put the phone down on the kitchen worktop and decided to take a closer look around the apartment. He hadn’t checked the bedroom yet, there could be a clue in there.

Even the slightest hint as to where Katie might have gone would be a bonus.

As Cage inspected the bedroom, he looked over at the scattered array of toys and stuffies that he had bought for Katie.

Cage was a tough man.

Hard as nails.

But in this moment, he felt a surge of raw emotion.

His Little was missing. Possibly in danger.

Cage felt like crap.

He needed to be out there, searching for Katie.

He desperately need to be trying every possible angle he could think of.

There had to be something he was missing. Somewhere. Even the smallest detail.

Cage moved on from the bedroom and had a look in the bathroom. All of Katie’s toiletries were still there. It felt unlikelyto Cage that Katie would have run away without her treasured Disney electric toothbrush. That didn’t make sense at all. Katie loved it so much, even joking to Cage that she would buy him a special Daddy Disney electric toothbrush for Christmas.

No, the more Cage thought about it, the less likely it seemed that Katie had simply run away from him. Cage couldn’t rule it out altogether, but it just didn’t add up.

There was definitely something up.

Cage felt his mind begin to focus.

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