Page 60 of Betrayal & New Beginnings

This couldn’t be good.Iwondered if this was why no one answered my calls.Myoriginal plan was to head straight to my apartment, but nowIfound myself entering the reception area.

I walked in to find a young woman with silver-blonde hair directing the cops, her voice sharp with urgency.Atall man stood at her back, his posture tense, as if ready to intervene if needed.

She was stunning.Herhair bounced as she turned back and forth, issuing instructions to the officers in the room.Therewas fire in her eyes—not arrogance, but determination.Isuspected she wasRuthie, our receptionist, though having never met her,Icouldn’t be sure.

Not seeing anyone elseIrecognized,Idecided to speak up, introduce myself, and find out what was going on.

"Excuse me,"Isaid, but her voice carried over mine, unwavering.

The man at her back was the only one to take notice of me, though he remained silent.Itried again, louder this time.

"Excuse me—can someone tell me what’s going on?"

This time, she turned, her gaze sharp and slightly annoyed as it landed on me. “Listenhere shitwhistle,Idon’t know who you are, but you can’t be here right now.”

I felt my eyes widen in shock as well as my lips twitch asIthought about what she called me.Thiswoman was a firecracker.

“Ruthie,Ithink this guy…” the taller man beside her started, confirming my suspicion about her identity.

"This guy can wait,Diego," she said firmly, cutting him off.

Ah, so this must beDiego, the new hire the guys had mentioned.Iassumed he may know whoIwas soInodded to him.Hetried to interrupt, but before he could speak again, she continued.

"Every minute we waste answering his questions," she said, pointing at me, "is a minute that could be used to help the cops findEllie."

Wait.Didshe just say my sister’s name?IdecidedI’dhad enough letting the little firecracker take over the conversation.

“EllieHutchinson?”Iasked. “Whathappened toEllie?” my voice got louder, andImoved back closer to the cops.

“Sir, if you,” one of the cops tried to interrupt me butIwasn’t having it.

“That’s my sister.I’mJackHutchinson, her brother.Whathappened, officer?”Idemanded.

The room went silent as everyone stared at me.

“I’mDiegoMartin, new hire,” he reached out to shake my hand.

“Heard about you, nice to meet you.Canyou tell me what’s going on?”Ishook his hand and asked him.

Diego, along with two of the officers filled me in on what little they knew about my sister being kidnapped.TheymentionedRuthiehad givenElliea tracker, which they were using to find her.

Throughout the conversation,Ruthiehad been silent—a stark contrast to her previous firecracker attitude.

“They found her,” one of the cops announced from the corner of the room while on his phone.

At the same time, my phone buzzed in my pocket.Ipulled it out to seeVince’sname on the screen.

“I’m at the office and have been briefed onElliebeing kidnapped,”Iannounced. “Sitrep?”

“We found her.She’salive and on her way to the hospital withWade.RelaytoDiegoandRuthie.Oneof them can drive you.I’llmeet you there.”

He hung up andInoticed he said she was alive but didn’t give any details as to how badly she was injured.Ididn’t waste time.Irelayed whatIheard fromVinceto the room.

“I’m coming with you,”Ruthiedecreed.

“I’ll stay here and handle whatever the cops need,”Diegoadded.

“That’s fine, butIdon’t have my car keys on me.”Iassumed they were still in my apartment somewhere, butIhadn’t even been up there yet.

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