Page 81 of Anyone But the Boss

Ignoring them, I open it, a flare of excitement hitting me. Then I glance at my watch. ‘Dang it.’

There goes my coffee time.

21

THOMAS

‘Everything I was able to gather is in your inbox, Mr Moore.’

I hold the phone away from my ear as Detective Mason’s voice barks out of the receiver, echoing in my quiet office.

After I carried Alice to my bed last night, situating her between myself and a sleeping Mary, instead of a night spent staring at the ceiling whilst laying at the edge of the bed as I’d resigned myself to, I dropped into a deep, peaceful sleep. I might have even slept past my usual 5 a.m. workout hour if the demon cat hadn’t woken me by pouncing on my dick.

But as he did, I was able to work out and leave for the office before either Alice or Mary woke.

Clicking open my email, I skim the documents, surprised at what I find.

‘Alice was in foster care?’

‘Yes. That’s where she and Kayla Rogers met. Kayla’s parents fostered Alice for six months before they died in a vehicle accident.’

Jesus.

‘It seems the women lost touch for a while before Kayla showed up pregnant and needing help.’ Papers rustle in the background. ‘No father is listed on Mary Ella Rogers’ birth certificate.’

‘And no leads on her mother?’

‘No, but I have calls out to all the shelters in a twenty-mile radius of the hospital she took her daughter to. I figure if she was drunk when the child was hurt, she probably went to the closest facility.’ He clears his throat. ‘The real worry is the ex-boyfriend.’

I click to the next document. ‘Drugs.’ Everything I read adds to the sinking feeling in my stomach.

‘Nothing hard,’ he continues like a man used to living in the gray. ‘Pot, pills. One arrest, but only for possession, not for intent to sell.’

I’m silent for a while, trying to piece together what this all means.

I study the blue horse drawing on my desk blotter. The newest morning art edition that Mary slipped into my briefcase.

If drugs are involved, Kayla isn’t going to be able to care for Mary any time soon. If ever.

‘Our best bet is to find her before the police.’ Detective Mason says exactly what I’m thinking. ‘And hope it’s only the abandonment charge we have to deal with and not anything drug related.’

‘Then let’s do just that, Mr Mason. Let’s find her first.’

* * *

Tap tap tap-tap. Tap tap tap-tap.

It’s uncomfortably quiet in the conference room, save for my fingers drumming on the table. Ben and Chris, Bell’s employees, look half asleep. I’ve always noted that neither are morning people, and yet, as far as I know, they’ve never been late. I respect that as I, myself, prefer to keep to a schedule.

Usually.

The long hand of the clock above the door shifts a millimeter to the right, the small tick drawing everyone’s eye.

One minute to nine.

Besides Ben and Chris, the three new hires, Deborah, John and Amanda, sit opposite from me at the long conference table. Alice is the only person scheduled to be here who isn’t.

I check my phone once more, making sure I hadn’t missed a call or text.

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