Melanie

I popped my eyes open, covering my chest with my arms. This was seriously happening again?

Jonah stood up, stark naked. “Bryce? What the hell are you doing here?”

The man glanced at me and then quickly turned back to Jonah. “Sorry. I’ve been trying to call you. Since you didn’t answer, I thought I’d come by.”

“It’s after ten.”

“That didn’t stop you from pounding on my door a couple weeks ago at midnight, remember?”

“Touché, bro.” Jonah turned to me with an apologetic look. “This is…Melanie Carmichael.”

“I’m sure sorry. I didn’t know you had a woman over here.” The man named Bryce smiled.

“Well…”

I wanted to sink into the water. How many times was I going to go through this? Getting caught naked at Jonah Steel’s house was becoming a habit that I really wanted to break.

“Hey, look,” Bryce said. “I wouldn’t come over here unless it was an emergency.”

“Yeah?” Joe said. “What’s going on? Is Henry okay?”

“Henry’s fine. He’s with my mom.” Bryce shielded his eyes. “Would you please put something on?”

Jonah stepped out of the hot tub, retrieved his jeans, and donned them over his wet legs. He then grabbed a towel and the robe and brought them to me. “You don’t have to get out yet if you don’t want to. Just relax. You’re safe out here.”

I didn’t feel particularly safe, although I didn’t consider Bryce to be a threat. I knew he was Jonah’s friend. “I’ll get out, but thanks.”

I tried to stay as modest as possible as I stepped out, wrapping the towel around me. I grabbed the robe and took it inside. When I got into my guest bedroom, I took a quick shower to get rid of the chlorine, and then I rooted through the duffel bag I had brought. I hit pay dirt with a pair of soft flannel lounging pants and an old white T-shirt. Perfect.

I went back into the bathroom and combed through my hair, blew it dry until it was merely damp, and then decided to go to bed.

But sleep would not come. Every time I closed my eyes, the masked man appeared.

I walked back out to the kitchen. Jonah and Bryce were sitting at the table with drinks.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to interrupt you,” I said, warming.

“It’s okay,” Jonah said. “Do you want something? A cup of tea?”

I shook my head. “Maybe just some water.”

He began to stand, but I stopped him.

“I can get it myself.”

He smiled and turned back to Bryce. “So what’s going on? Stop beating around the bush.”

Bryce hedged. “Is it okay to talk?”

I turned around. He was looking straight at me.

I bit my lip and rubbed at the back of my neck. “I’m just leaving. Don’t mind me.”

“No, Melanie, I want you to stay. I know you don’t want to be alone right now.” He turned to his friend. “You can speak in front of her. You can trust her. Talon trusted her, and look at his outcome.”

Bryce met my gaze. “It’s really great to meet you, Melanie. I’ve heard nothing but good about you.”

Nothing but good. I had helped Talon. He was one of my success stories, and I had many more. I needed to remember those things as I tried to deal with Gina’s suicide and consequently what had happened to me.

I attempted a smile. “Honestly, I don’t want to interrupt you guys.”

“Look, I want you to stay,” Jonah said.

Bryce nodded. “Yeah, really, it’s okay.”

Since I didn’t want to go back in the bedroom by myself, I relented and sat down at the table, taking a tentative sip of my water.

Bryce rubbed his forehead. “My dad.”

Jonah tensed. Someone who didn’t know him might not have noticed, but his jawline and forearms became rigid.

“What about him?” Jonah asked.

“He’s missing. He went to the city on business three days ago. We didn’t think it was a huge deal. He called Mom each night, until last night. He didn’t call her. We haven’t heard from him.”

“Did you call his hotel?”

“Yeah. They don’t have any record of him staying there.”

Jonah visibly tensed again. He knew something. I had learned to read body language well as a therapist. There was something Jonah wasn’t saying.

Jonah cleared his throat, seemingly taking longer than usual to do so. “Have you called the police?”

“Yeah, this morning. But they haven’t been any help so far.”

“Well, he’s a grown man. There’s not likely much they can do.”

“But he’s the mayor, for God’s sake. No one’s seen him since Tuesday morning.”

I jolted in my seat. The mayor? I had seen him—or at least someone whom the person manning the cash register called “Mayor”—on Tuesday, in the late afternoon, buying duct tape and rope at the little hardware store in town. Right before I drove home. Right before…

I opened my mouth to speak, but decided against it. I’d let them talk for a few minutes. This really didn’t concern me.

“Mom is beside herself. She’s convinced someone took him. I’m not sure. Maybe he ran off with someone.” Bryce shook his head. “No, he couldn’t have. He’s never lied to her in his life, and he wouldn’t start now.”

More uneasiness from Jonah. It was thick in the room, and I wondered if Bryce sensed it. I certainly could.

“I’m sorry about what you and your mom are going through. But what do you think I can do?”

“I need you to help us find him, Joe. I know you guys have resources. Like those high-priced PIs who are working on your case.”

“High-priced is an understatement,” Jonah said.

“I don’t care what it costs.” Bryce pounded his fist on the table. “I need to find my dad. I need to do it for my mom. And for my son. I want Henry to know his grandpa.”

And yet more ripples of stress from Jonah. He was squirming, and a few beads of sweat emerged at his hairline. I could almost see it in color—angry red radiating around him like a fiery aura.

What was going on? I opened my mouth again. “This really isn’t any of my business, but you said your father was the mayor?”