Page 48 of Espresso Your Love

“Copy. Meet me and Lawson by the southeast corner.”

“Roger that.”

I walk with a purpose but stay calm to not alert anyone. I spot Mitchell with Max and Lawson behind one of the booths.

“What’s the situation?” I ask as I reach them.

“Someone came to us about some teenagers who’ve been acting suspiciously,” Lawson fills me in.

“It could be harmless fun. Where are they?”

“Behind the bounce house.” Mitchell nods in that direction.

I scan each young face. One of them is twisting his fingers in his sweater, another keeps looking over his shoulder.

Lawson says, “We’ve been keeping an eye on them, but when I overheard them mention Cassie by name—”

My stomach drops. “Cassie?”

“Yes, they said—”

I glance at Mitchell whose face is laced with worry. “I was just with her. She was safe with me but now…now she’s alone!”

My heart is pounding. I need to find her now.

Mitchell radios, “All security officers, please find Cassie Thompson, about 5-foot, blonde hair.” He turns to me now. “Hayes, what was she wearing?”

“Uh…”Get it together, Ryan! Think like an officer. “Dark jeans, purple coat, purple scarf, brown boots.”

Mitchell repeats it over the radio.

“I’ll watch them, you find her,” Mitchell says to me.

Immediately, I’m off. Max is right beside me. I retrace my steps back to the hay maze. Surely, she didn’t get too far. I look all around but don’t see her. I spin on my heel looking for her blonde hair to pop out of the crowd. I spot one of the volunteers assisting her and rush toward her.

“Have you seen Cassie?” I ask them, trying to keep the panic inside.

“Uh, no. I haven’t. Need me to radio her?”

“Yes, please.”

She talks into her radio. “Cassie, come in.”

Silence.

“Try again,” I urge her.

She repeats it on the radio. Nothing.

“What frequency are you on?”

She tells me the frequency, and I tell her to keep trying and spread the word to get Cassie to call me. I’ll circle the town square until I find her and make sure she’s safe.

“Hayes, they’re on the move. Heading northwest across the square,” Mitchell says over the radio.

“Heading that direction.” A cold wave of dread washes over me. What would they want with Cassie?

“I see her, Hayes,” Mitchell radios in, his voice sharp among the live music and people chattering. “She’s buying funnel cakes.”

---