Page 84 of Alluring

Alexis slowly backed out of the parking spot then did as she was told.

* * * * *

The Range Rover wasn't in its spot. Jack quickly looked around. It wasn't anywhere.

Jack dialed Stan. He filled him in on what happened. "The SUV has LoJack. Find it."

His phone rang again has soon as he hung up. "Well?"

"The penthouse is empty, sir. I found Miss Taft's phone on the bed."

"Bring it with you and meet me in my office." Jack hung up, then took a few deep breaths. He needed to stay calm. He would be of no use to Alexis if he lost his shit.

He put a call in to Becky on the way to his office, but it went to voice mail. Strange, she was always available. He poked his head in her office on his way to his own. Empty. Jack continued to his own office. He didn't have time to worry about his assistant.

Jack sat at his desk and pulled out his phone. He opened his photo album and looked at his pictures of Alexis. The first one, of course, was the selfie she took in her cocktail outfit. Jack smiled at the memory as he lovingly traced her face with his fingertip. He scrolled through a few, stopping at one he had taken of her asleep in bed. He remembered she had looked so peaceful and without thinking he had snapped a picture.

She was on her stomach. One leg bent at the knee, the other one straight. Her hand fisted snugly under her chin. Her curls were in disarray, spread across her pillow, some falling across her face. And she had a slight smile on her lips. He liked to think, she dreamed of him.

A knock at his door grabbed his attention. He looked up to find Hank standing in the doorway. He motioned for him to come in while putting his phone to sleep and setting it on his desk.

"You have her phone?" He asked, holding out his hand.

"Right here, sir." Hank gave Jack the phone.

He opened the phone log. A call from Hank, a call from Steph, and a call from him were her only calls this morning. The call from Steph came a few minutes after his call to her. He hit Stephs name and listened to it ring five times before going to voice mail. Not turned off then, just not answering.

He looked up at Hank. "Tell me why you didn't follow her to the second floor."

"Sir?"

"When you noticed the elevator had gone to the second floor, why did you stop to call me? Why didn't you go to the second floor yourself? She might have still been there."

"Sir, when I noticed the elevator, I immediately called Miss Taft's phone. When she didn't answer, I thought it best to notify you immediately of that."

Jack sighed. This conversation was pointless. He couldn't go back in time and change Hank's order of events. He now knew for the future, he didn't think well under pressure. "That will be all. Go check in with security and see if they have a spot for you today."

"Yes, sir." He gave Jack a quick nod of his head and left the office.

Ten more minutes passed before Stan walked in. Jack stood from his desk. Stan spoke before Jack could say anything. "Police are in the process of tracking the vehicle now. We should find something out soon." He set his briefcase down on an empty chair.

Jack paced his office as they waited for the call. He felt as though he should be doing something, like he was wasting time.

Stan's phone beeped a text. "They found your car. It's at the Rosewood apartment complex." Stan looked up from his phone. "That's where Stephanie Willis lives."

"Let's go." Jack grabbed his phone and they were out the door.

The police were already at Steph's apartment by the time Stan and Jack got there. When they walked through the apartment door, Steph came barreling at Jack, throwing her arms around his waist and sobbing into his chest.

He gave her a minute to calm down then carefully set her away from him. She was a mess. Her hair was matted, and her eyes were bloodshot from crying. She had a red handprint across her left cheek, but she didn't look hurt anywhere else.

"Tell me what happened." He had a gentle, yet firm grip on her upper arms.

Steph still cried, but he could understand what she said. "When I woke up this morning, my hands were tied. That crazy woman from the party last night stood over me, with a gun. She gagged me, then used my phone to call Alexis."

"What crazy lady?" Jack's grip on her arms grew tighter, but neither of them noticed. Stan lightly tapped him on the arm and gave a slight nod of his head. Jack immediately loosened his hold.

"I don't remember her name. The one Mase was with."

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