Page 55 of Property of Max
She looks genuinely baffled. “Her father isn’t allowed to pick her up from school?”
I hate confrontation, but when it comes to Bree and Micah, I will go to war with anyone who puts them at risk. Not that Bree’s in danger with her father…but still.
“I am her legal guardian,” I say, forcing my voice steady. “I listed two people authorized to pick her up: me and Cody Bentley. So, tell me again how anyone else was allowed to take her from this building.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Campton. There must have been a mix-up.”
With the rage boiling in my chest, I don’t trust myself to respond. Instead, I turn on my heel, yank my phone from my pocket, and head for my car.
Chris answers on the second ring. “Lila. I was just about to call you.”
Starting the engine, I pull out of the parking lot, voice tight. “A heads-up would’ve been nice before you decided to pull Bree from school in the middle of the day. That’s not okay, Chris. I need to know these things before they happen.”
“That’s your issue…always needing to be in charge,” he snaps back. “And for your information, I didn’t pull her from school. I was calling to see if she wanted to come over this weekend. Mysisters in town, and her daughter wanted to spend time with her little cousin.”
I slam on the brakes, tires screeching, completely unaware of the traffic piling up behind me.
“What?” My voice cracks. “What do you mean? You didn’t pick her up?”
“No, Lila,” Chris snaps, frustration bleeding through the line. “I did not pick our daughter up from school. Have you been drinking again?”
“Again?” My shock makes the word spit out like venom. “I’ve never touched a drop of alcohol in my life, and you damn well know it. The office saidyousigned her out.”
“Well, I didn’t.” His voice is clipped. “I have to go.”
“Wait…Chris?”
The line goes dead.
Panic claws up my throat. Without thinking, I wrench the wheel into a sharp turn, horns blaring as I narrowly miss a pedestrian. My only thought…my only breath…is to get back to the school.
I fling the car door open as soon as I stop in front of the building and run for the entrance, not bothering to close my door. The automatic doors stay locked until someone in the office buzzes me in; my stomach drops waiting for that click. When it finally opens, I barrel through, breath hot and loud in my ears.
“He said he didn’t sign her out,” I blurt as I slam into the office, eyes searching the reception area. “She has to still be here. Can you go check the classrooms? The gym? Anywhere…please.”
The receptionist’s face is small and apologetic. “Ma’am, I was right here when he walked out with her.”
“No!” My voice breaks. “Please, just go check. He doesn’t have her. She couldn’t have left. Please.” My hands are shaking; I feel like I’m going to explode if someone doesn’t move.
“Alright,” the receptionist says softly, picking up the phone. Her voice is calm…too freaking calm…as she dials.
“Hi, Mrs. Lawson? Is Briana Campton with you? … No? Okay. No, I understand. Thank you.”
She sets the receiver down and looks back at me, her expression already apologetic.
“I’m sorry,” she says carefully. “She’s not here.”
The floor tilts under me. My legs go weak, but the fear coursing through me won’t let me collapse.
“What do you mean she’s not here?” My voice rises, ragged, desperate. “She has to be here. You can’t justlosea child. She’s my baby. Where the hell is my baby?”
“Ma’am, calm down.”
“Don’t youdaretell me to calm down!” I shout, my voice cracking under the weight of terror. “Who the hell did you let my daughter walk out of here with?”
The receptionist flinches, fumbling with her hands. “He…he signed her out. He said he was her father. He matched the description-”
“He’s not on the damn list!” I slam my hands against the counter, shaking. “You had one job. One. To keep my daughter safe inside this building until the right person came for her. And you let herwalk away.”
