Page 16 of Stripped Bare

“Stace?”Blake asked and lifted a brow at Shep.

“Stace Anders,” Shep answered.“She’s the sister of our missing woman.”

“And?”Ally prompted.

“Chloe is a nursing student in her third year,” Shep continued not answering what they were asking.How could he when he wasn’t sure yet?“She stopped in at Tark’s Tavern that night.It was unplanned, as far as we can learn.Then sometime while there, she was given a drink, which we suspect was drugged.Nothing left in or on the car.No one remembers seeing anything at the bar.Her best friend didn’t know Chloe was stopping at Tark’s since it wasn’t a place they hung out at.Police searched, questioned and came up with a big fat nothing.It’s as if she disappeared into thin air.And so far, we’ve found nothing, either.”

“Then the only thing you even have to indicate she was taken is the 9- 1-1 call?”Blake asked.

“Yeah,” Shep agreed.“Otherwise, it would look like she walked away from her car and left.”

“I’d like to see the car,” Ally said.“I think that would be my best chance to connect with her.”

“I’m sure we can talk to Stace and see about picking it up tomorrow,” Shep offered, glancing at his watch.“I honestly didn’t think about it today when We were there, or I would have suggested it then.The lot’s closed now.”

“Where is this Stace you keep referring to?”Blake asked.

“She took a run then hit the shower,” Shep answered.“I’m sure she’ll be down any minute.Until then, fill me in.Did you two go to the birthday party?”He knew they had.Her cousin, Ben, was the dad, and as the two cousins had only reunited in recent years, Ally and Blake would have stopped in.

“Yes, I can’t believe Mikey is already a year old,” Ally said, with a smile.“Katie had the house all decorated, and the cake was so cute.She and her mom, Catherine, had everything perfect.Oh, and you missed the big announcement since you weren’t there.”

“What announcement?”Shep wanted to know.There was always something going on with one of them.The Daniels and the large, extended Madigan family, which Shep was part of, seemed to always be in the middle of something.

“Well, maybe, we shouldn’t tell you.Maybe, it would be better if you just learned about it when you head back home,” Ally teased.

“Don’t make me wait for Griff to get back here,” he ordered, knowing he’d be waiting a long time since Griff had texted him earlier to say Jack was having Griff help Chetan on something else for a bit.Still, Shep didn’t think Ally or Blake knew that.“Just tell me everyone’s okay.”

“Yes.Things are wonderful,” Ally assured him.“Both Moira and Cass announced they’re pregnant.”

“What?”Shep exclaimed with excitement.“That’s fantastic news.I can’t wait to see them both when I get home.I’ll have to stop in at the club.”

Moira owned and operated a fitness club, and Cass helped manage it.Moira was the daughter of his boss, Jack Madigan, and Shep had known her since she was a teenager.She was like a sister to him.The same could be said for Moira’s best friend, Cass, though he and Cass had gone out on exactly one date.That was all it had taken for them to know beyond a doubt there was only friendship between them.Both the women had married into the Daniels family.Moira to the oldest brother, Gil, and Cas to the middle brother, Doug.Though Cas’ marriage was unconventional in that she was also married to Doug’s best friend, Damon.

“What’s fantastic news?”Stace asked, drawing his gaze to her as she walked into the room.

Shep was struck again by how naturally beautiful she was.Her dark brown hair was back in another ponytail, and her flawless face was without makeup.Still, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

“Stace,” Shep introduced, reaching his hand toward her and pulling her farther into the room.“Meet Ally and Blake.Ally, Blake.Stace Anders.”

Chapter Eight

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Ally said, stepping forward and taking Stace’s hand, her fingertips just grazing Stace’s watchband.

Ally wasn’t what Stace had expected.The woman was dainty, maybe five feet even in her bare feet.She had long black hair that was braided down her back and big green eyes.She looked like a tiny fairy.Her fiancé, Blake, was as tall as Shep.

“I’m grateful for your offer of help,” Stace said.“I’ll take all I can get.”

“We’re sorry to hear about your sister,” Blake offered as he moved to stand beside Ally.“Hopefully, Ally will be able to lock onto something.”

“I’m curious and tend not to keep my thoughts to myself,” Stace began, purposefully keeping her gaze away from Shep.“How exactly does your psychic thing work?”

“I usually use an object the person I’m locating has touched, something recent,” Ally said.“If I’m lucky, I can use the energy to connect and potentially find them.”

“Have you evernotbeen able to make a connection?”Stace asked.

“Yes,” Ally said with no hesitation.Stace liked the way the woman didn’t defend her talent.It was easy to see Ally was comfortable in her own skin and left it up to the other person whether they believed in her ability or not.

“Do you know why you couldn’t connect on those times?”Stace asked.

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