Page 81 of You Found Me

With his team, there usually wasn’t one.

He’d guarded dignitaries, CEOs, and even members of a royal family. He’d been in special ops. He’d been praised for his ability to command a unit, and he’d received two commendations.

He was a successful professional with years of training.

But after an hour of questions, speculation, and whispers from friends, family, and nosy neighbors, he had to admit that no amount of active duty could prepare someone for the kind of assault given by well-meaning people in a small town.

He wasn’t a damn actor. This entire charade was growing thin, fast.

Ward moved away from the party tables to take up a position along the side where he could see both exits and where the fountain didn’t interfere too much with his line of sight.

He sent off a quick text to his team.

There better be some damn progress soon.

A few seconds later, two responses popped up on the group chat.

Spencer — Why? Trouble?

Annie — Things getting too cozy in that house with just the two of you?

He mentally flipped Annie off for that jab.

Ward — Can’t stay here forever

Annie — Anybody recognize her?

Ward — No

Annie — Told ya

He could hear the smugness and see the knowing glint in her eye in that text.

Ward — Progress. Report.

Annie sent a laughing emoji.

He sent a finger-flipping emoji back.

Spencer — A story has popped up on several sites, all with fake bylines.

A link followed. Ward clicked it and found aBuzzarticle titled “Della Bellamy Disappears Again.”

Ward scanned the article. It referred to Della’s previous unexpected absence almost six years ago, and speculation regarding what this current vanishing act could mean. Was she leaving the group again? Was she having an affair with Blake Ryan?

Spencer — Note the request for Della sightings in the call out.

Ward considered that. It didn’t seem out of the ordinary under the circumstances.Significance?

Annie — It’s smart to ask her legions of fans to help. It worked last time.

Spencer — There’s three subreddits conducting an investigation on Della right now that’s quite sophisticated. All possibly led by the same person. Working on verifying.

Ward — Are they close to finding her?

Spencer — No. They’re extremely upset by the lack of progress.

Ward suppressed a snort. He was just as frustrated, but for a different reason. They were no closer to finding this asshat than they had been three weeks ago.

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