Page 41 of Montana Heat

“How’s she doing?” Lucas asked, glancing up at me as I stacked more plates near the soapy water.

I glanced out to where Lena had been sitting and chatting with Kenzie last. All night long, I’d been getting used to her by my side. But I felt like she could appreciate a little space, so I decided to help clean up. I didn’t want to hover, but I was surprised that she wasn’t there at my glance.

Where’d she go?

“All right, I guess.” I didn’t want to tell anyone that I suspected some of her cheerfulness was a front. All of this was really starting to weigh on her, which was totally understandable.

I turned to Jude. “Any update on the El Camino front?” He’d been the first person I’d called after Charlie.

“Nothing so far, but I’ll keep digging. That style vehicle is unique, but there’re more of them out there than you’d think. Plus,not all of them are legally registered, so I’m looking through other channels too.”

“Okay, thanks for doing that.”

Jude nodded. “Anything to help, man. You know that. None of us want to see Kenzie suffer.”

I didn’t either. Watching her remember that attack in the parking lot had been painful. She had been struggling to keep it together.

Being here tonight had seemed to help—or at least take Kenzie’s mind off the stalker for a little while. I hadn’t been surprised that she’d fit right in.

Although I had to admit, it scared me a little with how good it had felt to have her at my side. To casually and innocently touch her when we were passing food. How she’d reached out to smack my shoulder lightly when I’d whispered a sarcastic comment during someone’s story.

She was so outgoing and chatty and sweet that I felt like having her as my date made up for my tendency to be somewhat antisocial. The gang here was used to it, but I didn’t have to worry if I was being too quiet with Kenzie around. She was so bright, drawing everyone to her.

I looked out toward the table again. Still not there.

I left the kitchen to find her. I needed to see her. Something in my gut wasn’t sitting right.

I checked the bathroom first, but I didn’t find her. As I passed each of the ladies, I asked them if they’d seen Kenzie. Normally, I’d be a little concerned about the knowing looks they were giving me—obviously, they loved that I was asking about her—but right now, I just wanted to find her.

She wouldn’t have left. Hell, she had no way of leaving. But why wasn’t she in with everyone else?

I stuck my head into the main hallway to see if she wasstanding out there, but I didn’t see anyone. I was heading back inside when I heard a muffled sob.

“Kenzie?”

She was crouched on the floor in the hallway next to the supply closet. She sat huddled with her back to the wall and her knees tucked up to her chest, chin resting on them. She was staring at her phone.

My worry spiked, and I rushed to her side, dropping down on my knees. “Hey, City. What’s wrong?”

She didn’t even look at me. She pressed a button on her phone then brought it to her ear. After a few seconds, she removed it and hit a button again.

Then she repeated the process.

“My-my mom…”

I didn’t understand what was happening here. “You’re trying to call your mom?”

She still didn’t look up. “I called her. I called Dad. They’re not answering. But then… But then…”

She repeated the process with her phone, obviously trying to get through to one of them.

“Okay, hang on. Let’s not assume anything’s wrong. Maybe they’re just busy. They’re watching television or something and can’t hear their phones. Maybe?—”

“I called my mom first, and she didn’t answer. Which is weird. She always has her phone. Then I called my dad and got no answer.”

“Scary, but there’s probably a perfectly good?—”

Now, she finally looked at me. “When I called my mom back, a man answered. He had some sort of weird electronic voice.”

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