Page 32 of It Just Feels Right

He’s not having it, though. “Cass, why didn’t you call me?”

But I still don’t answer him. He’s frustrated, and I don’t blame him. He blows out a breath and puts his arm around me as he walks me to his squad car. “Come on.”

I stop before getting in. “Do you want me to follow you in my car?”

He shakes his head. “No, I want you to get in my car. I need to go find Colby, but I can’t leave you when you’re upset like this. Come on, you might know where he is.”

I point to myself. “I might know? I don’t have a clue. Have you talked to his mother?”

He sighs. “His mother was found passed out in her front yard. She almost od’d. She’s been admitted to the hospital.”

I gasp and bring my hand up to my mouth. “Oh no! Do you think Colby knows?”

He shrugs. “I’m not sure, but it’s possible that she was strung out this morning before he went to school. Maybe something happened. We don’t know for sure. I’ve called his uncle. He was in Jasper about to get on a plane but he’s back in town and is searching for Colby too.”

He sets me in his car, and instead of shutting the door, he squats next to me. “Think about it. You know Colby. What does he like to do?”

I wrack my brain trying to think of everything I know about Colby. “He loves to draw.”

“We’ll check the new art store in town.”

I nod, thinking what a good idea that is. “He likes to read.”

“The library. There’s a hundred places he can hide in the library. What else?”

I try to think about it and lift my shoulders. I don’t know if this is a good clue or not, but I’m willing to try anything. “This summer I met Chloe at the park to run the track there, and I saw Colby hanging out at the swings. I didn’t know him then, but I noticed him because he was by himself, watching the ground as the swing swayed back and forth.”

He claps me on the shoulder. “Good, good. We’ll hit the art store, then the library, and if we still haven’t found him, we’ll go to the park. Good job, Cassie.”

He kisses me, puts the seatbelt around me, and snaps it before closing my door.

I watch as he walks around to the driver’s side of the car. Again, Baker has shown up for me when I needed him. I’m a fool if I don’t start putting some faith in him.

CHAPTER 16

BAKER

I’m notsure how it’s possible, but it is.

I’m fuming mad but I also want to hold her and make sure she’s okay. Seeing her cry and break down the way she did had me wanting to throttle someone.

I can’t handle her being upset, and the only thing I can think is I need to fix it.

I don’t know why she didn’t call me.

She gave herself to me, but she’s still holding back, and I plan to find out why, but first I need to find the kid.

I drive across town, and she stays in the car as I run into the art store. I show the salesclerk Colby’s picture on my phone, and she shakes her head. She allows me to search the store, and when he’snowhere to be found, I go back out to Cassie in the squad car.

We drive to the library next. “Come on. This place is huge. You can help me look.”

She’s going crazy sitting in the car, and it may help her if she’s actively looking.

She walks with me into the library, and it takes everything I have not to hold her hand. When we get inside, I stop at the checkout counter and explain the situation. I turn to Cassie. “You take this floor and check everywhere. I’ll take upstairs.”

She nods her head, and I jog up the stairs. After fifteen minutes of searching, Colby is nowhere to be found. I stand at the top of the stairs and look down to the first floor, trying to see things from a different angle, but all I see is the desk clerk and Cassie going through the aisles searching.

I try not to let myself panic. Both places were such good ideas, and I don’t know what I’m going to do if I can’t find him. I promised Cassie I would.

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