Page 91 of Fortune's Control
Shane cast his gaze upwards, towards the second floor. “If you want to escape, never go up. If you want to attack, don’t do it against two people who know you’re there.”
“Did you learn that in military school?”
He chuckled. “Something like that. Still, we aren’t done.”
I believed Shane and trusted his intuition. The lack of forced entry or creaky floorboards proved him correct. Silence hit again, and with it, the same sensation that struck as we drove up.
The house should not be this empty.
I cried out and ran from the living room to start my search.
Shane followed. “What is it?”
My panic grew. “Pirate. She’s gone.”
I ran from him to check her usual hiding spots, with no luck. Her full water bowl and empty pirate ship told me shewasn’t inside.
Shane turned on the staircase lights. “Let’s check upstairs before we assume the worst.”
“She’s not there. She’s lost.”
“You don’t know that. She might be asleep on the bed.”
I knew, and still followed. We inspected each bedroom without success. Shane didn’t find an intruder, and Pirate didn’t appear.
“She’s gone.”
Shane pulled me against him. “She’ll be back. Cats sneak out for an adventure, but they always return home.”
“Pirate didn’t sneak out. I’m going to look for her.”
I went back downstairs, leaving him in one of the spare bedrooms.
“Pirate!” No response. I opened a can of cat food next. “It’s your favorite flavor.”
“Did you find her?” Concern etched itself onto Shane’s features. He pressed a button on his phone without waiting for a response. “Get over here…Pirate is missing…Yes, the cat…. Good idea, thanks.”
“Was that Jack?”
“He’s on his way. Right now, let’s recheck the house, and then we’ll look outside.”
*****
Jack whistled to announce his presence.
I shut the pantry door behind me and ran into Shane, who beat me to the family room.
“Pirate isn’t inside,” I said.
“When did you last see her?” Jack asked me.
“This morning before we left. She was curled up on her bed. I have pictures of her.” I opened my phoneto show him.
Jack waved it away. “We all know what she looks like. There aren’t many black and white cats with one eye around here. I’ll start in the garage while we wait for more help.”
“You must think I’m being melodramatic,” I said once we were alone.
“I think you’re a woman who deeply cares, and Pirate is lucky to have you,” Shane said.
