After Anna left, something shifted inside Rachel, leaving her mind murky and confused. And even while Nick tried to coax her into replacing her hospital food with the fries he’d bought, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was forgetting something, something urgent.

Chapter Fifty

Monday, May 27

Five-thirty on Monday morning, Alyssa was showered and ready to go. Just before she’d drifted off to sleep late last night, something had tickled at the back of her mind, but she’d nodded off before she could fully pull on that thread.

‘You know you’re not going to do anyone any good if you drive yourself into the ground, Lys. The girls are safe and surrounded by hospital staff and security. Take a day and refresh.’ Brock, hair tousled, rested on his elbows, eyes still heavy with sleep.

A cocktail of guilt and frustration burned through her because she’d been trying so hard to find these girls that she’d been neglecting her husband. And she was about to do it again. ‘I can’t, honey. There’s something I’m missing, and I’m close to figuring out what that is. Plus, not only are we still looking for at least three more men, but we’re also trying to hunt down Tatiana Salazar, not to mention this mysterious girl Becca and Katelyn remembered approaching them about a phone just before they were drugged.’ Her eyes begged him to be patient and understanding a little longer. ‘Let me wrap this case up, and I promise I’ll make it up to you.’

‘There’s nothing to make up, babe. You’re doing your job. I’m worried about you is all. When’s the last time you actually ate a decent meal? Notice I said decent, not fast food.’

‘I don’t know,’ she mumbled.

‘At least let me make you an omelet before you go.’ He’d already swung his feet out of the bed and pulled on a pair of shorts, so even though she was itching to get out the door, Alyssa capitulated.

‘I’ll meet you downstairs.’ Lost in the elusive link she was missing, she didn’t notice someone was in the kitchen until she practically knocked into Holly, who was apparently one step ahead of her father in that she was already assembling all the ingredients for an omelet. ‘Morning, sweetie. What’s got you up so early?’

Holly continued chopping green chile. ‘Wanted to feed, see, and talk to you.’

Alyssa chuckled as she poured herself a cup of coffee. ‘You and your father seem to be on the same wavelength this morning. He’ll be down any minute to make me an omelet, too.’

‘Great minds and all.’

Something in her response made Alyssa feel like Holly was mentally miles away. She snagged a knife from the butcher block on the counter and proceeded to help chop vegetables. ‘Should I be worried?’

Holly stopped chopping. The knife in her hand wobbled. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Whatever you’ve got on your mind this morning. Should I be worried?’

Holly resumed chopping, the motion of the knife going fast enough that Alyssa was a little afraid her daughter was going to slice her fingers off. ‘Will the other girls be okay?’ There was the slightest waver in her voice, and Alyssa wanted to do nothing more than grab her daughter up and promise her everything would be all right.