Chapter 29
Crash
I stormed from one side of my office to the other, unable to sit down, unable to relax, unable to think about anything except Elle.
The door knocked and Kyle came in. “You wanted to see me bro?”
I stopped pacing and looked him direct in the eye. “I need you to take care of the casino,” I said. “And there's a meeting I have with the development team later. You're going to have to fill in for me. Can you get up to speed with things before this afternoon?”
He nodded. “Of course, anything you need.”
I tried to smile but couldn't. I'd had a deep frown on my face for two days now. “Thanks, I'm glad I can count on you Kyle.”
“Crash, go home mate, you look like you haven't slept in days.” I hadn't.
“That's where I'm going.” It was a lie. I wasn't going home.
I stepped towards the door, leaving the casino in Kyle's hands. It was my baby, a business I'd seen flourish for years, but I didn't care about it right now. I didn't care about the new development, or the crucial meeting we hadtoday with the architects and engineers and investors. I didn't care about anything, nothing except finding Elle.
She'd been missing for a couple of days now and I couldn't stop Alice from going to the police. I didn't want to stop her anyway. Anything they could do to help was welcomed.
But I felt sure that their efforts would come to nothing. It would be the local police searching for her, nothing more. She'd gone missing in town, and I doubted they'd involve any wider police force as part of their search.
But I knew she wasn't in the city. I knew she wasn't in the state. Something told me she was back in California. Something told me Brad had her somewhere. It was down to me to find out where.
....
I stood in Jones' office, an envelope in my hand.
“That's everything I have on him. Where he lives, who his family is, his room number at college, the course he's on, the name of his professors, everything.”
“Thanks Jones, I'll never forget this. Never.” He'd done more than I could ever thank him for already and continued to be a huge help.
He nodded his thanks, as was often his way.
I paced straight out of the office and into my Hummer. I had a plane to catch and time was ticking.
I caught glimpse of my face in the mirror as I roared through the streets towards the airport. I looked half dead, my eyes deep and dark, heavy shadows gathering beneath them. My skin had gone pale, covered in thick stubble fromseveral days without a shave. My hair was rough, untamed and messy.
I didn't give a shit. How I looked was the least of my worries.
The flight was short, only lasting about two hours.
I could think of nothing but Elle the whole time, my body increasingly restless as I waited in the departure lounge and sat squashed into the seat on the plane. I rarely flew, and when I did I only ever went first class. Not this time, however. I had to take what I could get.
It was early afternoon when the plane touched down, the warmth of the summer sun far more intense than I was used to. I felt weary and drained as I went through the airport and out towards the taxi stand. I needed to sleep. I needed to rest. But I couldn't.
I stepped straight into a cab that was waiting out the front of the airport.
"Where do you wanna go?” the driver asked cheerfully.
I slid the envelope Jones had given me from my bag and took out a sheet. I peered over it quickly, my eyes settling on an address.
“Denver Halls,” I said. “Make it quick and I'll pay you double.”
I've got someone I need to talk to.