Page 104 of The Fate of Us

“Jon’s on it.”

I shake my head. “Barely. He sent me over forensic reports on the Duncan case before he left for the day.”

“Well I am sure he is still working on it. Besides, she is safe. You are on her like a bodyguard.”

I shrug. “Doesn’t mean I can’t worry.”

Marcus nods and I follow him out the door. “I don’t blame you. I would do anything to protect the ones I love.”

We walk across the street to Jimmy’s and the place is packed. Marcus leads me over to a table with some of the other detectives and a few police officers.

I take a seat and look around for Anna but I don’t see her. She must be on a break.

“Where is our waitress? I haven’t seen her in a bit. She’s always on top of it,” one of the cops says.

My gut has that funny feeling again where I know something is wrong. My eyes scan the restaurant but still no sign of her. I’m about ready to check the kitchen when Jon chimes in.

“I saw her talking to a blond woman. They walked toward the back. I’m sure she will be back soon,” Jon says before taking a sip of his beer.

I can’t help but feel on edge. Maybe it was Seraphina but I find it odd she would come here. She never does.

Marcus must notice my agitation. “What’s wrong, Noah?”

“Something doesn’t feel right.”

Marcus scans the room and flags down one of the other servers walking by. “Is Anna on a break?”

“She shouldn’t be. She had one half an hour ago.”

I stand at that statement at the same time Marcus asks Jon, “What did the blond woman look like?”

“What?” Jon asks confused.

“The woman you saw Anna walk away with,” I demand.

Marcus puts a hand on my shoulder. “Did Anna look troubled?”

“Who’s Anna?” Jon asks.

Elliot hits him upside the head. “Our server.”

“Oh.” He shrugs. “I don’t know. I made eye contact with her when she left. She had a weird look on her face.”

My mind starts filtering through the worst situations. Is she with the person leaving her notes? Did they kidnap her? Kill her? I am sure someone would have heard a gunshot.

“What did the woman she was with look like?” Marcus repeats.

“I don’t know.” Jon grabs the back of his neck. “Blond, short, thin. Kind of tired looking but if she put makeup on she would be hot as hell.”

“Fuck.”

Marcus looks at me and must see the terror on my face. “Elliot, you and Jon, go through the front to the parking lot. We’ll head out back to the alley.”

“What’s going on?” Jon asks as Elliot stands up.

“The Cooper case you are supposed to be working on,” Elliot says.

“Fuck.” The look on Jon’s face looks like he put everything together.

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