Page 105 of Close Pursuit

Why in the hell did someone go after legal documents pertaining toDawn? Only his father would be interested in the infant like this. But his father surely knew where the baby was already. What did the child’s legal status or trust fund have to do with anything or anyone else?

Frowning, he pulled his vibrating cell phone out of his pocket. He didn’t recognize the number. “Yes?” he said brusquely.

“Thank God you answered, Alex. It’s Sister Mary Harris. We have a problem.”

His heart skipped a beat. “Is Dawn all right?” he demanded urgently.

“Well, that’s the thing. Katie came to see her a little while ago, but now they’re both gone.”

“What?”

He took off running down the hall, phone plastered to his ear as he sprinted for his car. He listened in dismay to the details. A break-in. Katie showed up at the convent—Dammit. Any idiot could figure out a threat to the baby would draw her out of his place—Sister Mary Harris had brought Dawn to see her. Katie volunteered to rock her to sleep…

He leaped into his car and tore out of the parking lot. He dialed Katie’s phone, but got sent immediately to voice mail. Why in thehellwould she turn off her phone? His alarm turned into panic as he headed for home.

He tore into his condo, shouting, “Katie? Where are you?”

Only silence answered him. His panic became infused with helplessness. Where had she and Dawn gone? Had someone snatched them? Or had Katie fled on her own?

He got onto the Internet fast and looked up her father’s cell phone number.

“Hello, Mr. McCloud. My name is Alex Peters, and I’m a friend of Katie’s.”

“You’re the guy who stabbed my boy, aren’t you?”

“Yes sir, I am,” he answered impatiently. “Have you heard from Katie, tonight?”

“No, and she was supposed to meet us at the hospital and go to dinner with us but never showed up. Is something wrong?” The cop in the man obviously smelled a problem.

“She’s disappeared. If she contacts you, please have her call me immediately.”

“Likewise, Peters. Have her call us.”

“Will do.”

“Can I help?” her father bit out.

“If you can, you’ll be the first to know.” Alex disconnected the call and stared at nothing. Katie knew her parents were in D.C. with Ian. Would she still head home to Pittsburgh with Dawn if they were all down here? His gut said she wouldn’t. Who else would she turn to for help?

He called André Fortinay’s emergency cell number.

“Good evening Alex? What’s up?”

“Have you heard from Katie McCloud tonight, sir?”

“No. Is something amiss?”

“She’s disappeared with the infant we brought back from Zaghastan.”

“What do you mean, disappeared?”

“She’s dropped off the grid. Completely. I’m worried something might have happened to her.”

“Did you two have some kind of falling out?”

Alex rolled his eyes at the ceiling of his office. “No. We didn’t. Look this is totally unlike Katie. Something’s wrong. Please have her call me if you hear from her.”

“I will. Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” the Frenchman said.

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