Page 4 of Forged in Secrets

Something about the tone of his voice made her stomach clench.

“It’s Katie Fairman. Her father just called me. She had just headed off for spring break on South Padre Island.”

Her father paused, releasing a sigh.

“She’s gone.”

CHAPTER

THREE

GRACE

Grace could hardly believe what she was hearing.

“What do you mean, she’s gone?” she said, unable to keep the edge from her voice. “When did this happen?”

“Her best friend had a late dinner with her around ten last night. She says that Katie wasn’t feeling well and decided to take a cab back to their hotel. She offered to go with her, but Katie insisted she was fine. It’s the last time she was seen.”

“Last night? Do the local police know?” Grace asked, swallowing down several more questions as she began to pace back and forth.

“They’ve been looking into it,” her father said. “They checked the security footage at the hotel. No sign of Katie after she left for dinner that night.”

He paused again, and she could almost imagine him wiping a hand over his brow, trying to decide how to phrase what he had to say next.

“Anyway, the police seem to think she just ran away. They told her dad that she’d probably turn up in a few days.”

Grace’s jaw tensed. “Of course that’s what they think. Typical. I know Katie, and she wouldn’t do that. I know she wouldn’t.”

This was a nightmare. She hadn’t seen Katie in several years, but she couldn’t imagine her taking off and worrying everyone like this.

“Well, tell Donald I’ll call him, all right?” she continued. “We’ll get someone on this. I just have to talk to Gabe.”

She tried her best to ignore Ben and Asher’s curious glances as she and her father said their goodbyes.

He sounded as worried as she felt. Mr. Fairman was one of her dad’s closest friends, and they’d gotten even closer ever since Mrs. Fairman died of cancer quite a few years ago. She had no doubt that her father would do anything he could to ensure Katie’s safe return home.

“What’s going on?” Ben demanded as soon as she’d thrown her phone back into her bag.

“We’re needed on a case?” Asher added.

Grace glanced between them as her eyes began to fill with tears. All of a sudden, the day ahead seemed more frightening than beautiful.

“A family friend of mine, Katie Fairman, has disappeared. She was on spring break,” she managed to choke out. “And I just know something terrible must have happened. I know it’s not exactly our usual security work, but we need to help her. I need you to help me talk to Gabe.”

Her words hung in the air as several people entered the hospital behind them, shooting her pitying glances as theypassed, probably assuming she had just received bad news about a patient.

Ben took a couple of steps in her direction. She opened her mouth, expecting some argument, but instead, she found herself pressed up against his broad, warm chest.

She stiffened for a moment, not quite processing what was happening.

Benjamin Forge was not absolutely not a hugger.

Despite her confusion, she felt a shiver coursing through her as he ran a hand gently across her back.

“Don’t worry, Gracie,” he said.

He hadn’t called her that since they were about seven years old.

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