Page 174 of Finding Us

“Why wouldn’t she be safe?”

“I don’t know. Again, it’s just a feeling I have. Maybe it’s nothing. Or maybe my father’s right and I’m being paranoid.”

“Does this have anything to do with Roth? Have you seen him lately?” I park the car and run inside to the bedroom. The clothes Jade had on earlier are scattered all over the floor.

“I’ve seen him, but we didn’t talk. Your grandfather attended a dinner party at his house last week. I was invited as well but I was out of town for work. Perhaps that’s why I’m paranoid. I couldn’t understand why Roth would invite meormy father to his estate. Everyone knows Roth isn’t happy with the Kensingtons after what happened with you last spring.”

“Maybe Grandfather knows something you don’t. Did you tell him what Roth told you last July?” I grab my running shoes and put them on. I don’t have time to change my clothes.

“Of course not. I was never supposed to ask Roth those questions. It’s not allowed. My father would be furious if he found out what I did. And he’d be even more furious if he knew I got Roth drunk that night so he’d talk. Listen, Garret. I may be worrying about nothing so don’t get too worked up about this. I just want you to be careful.”

I race back outside. “I’m on the beach now. I have to go.”

“Call Jade. And keep her on the phone until you see her.”

“I will.”

When I call her phone, it goes straight to voicemail. What the hell? She better have it turned on. It’s probably out of battery. She never charges the damn thing. I call her again and she answers.

“Garret, I’m out running but I’m heading back. Where are you?”

“I’m on the beach. I’m coming to get you. Why are you running alone? I told you not to run alone!”

“Why are you getting so angry? I’ll be home in a half hour.”

“I’m not angry. I’m just concerned.” I try to remain calm. I don’t want to start another fight. “Do you have any idea where you are?”

“No. There’s tall grass lining the edge of the beach. I can’t see over it but there’s an opening up ahead. I’ll check it out. Maybe it’s a parking lot. There’s a car there that—”

“No! Jade, don’t go over there!”

She doesn’t respond.

“Jade? Are you still there?” The phone is silent. “Jade?” I check my phone to make sure we’re still connected. We’re not. I call her again. I get her voicemail. What the hell’s wrong with her phone?

She said she saw a car, but a car should not be there. There’s no road where she is. It doesn’t go down that far.

What if the car she saw is the white car that was driving by our house? What if that guy is following her? Watching her? Planning to do something to her? Shit!

I’m trying to get to her as fast as possible but my feet keep sinking in the sand, slowing me down.

I call her phone, and again it goes to voicemail. Why isn’t she answering? I try to come up with an explanation that doesn’t involve Jade being attacked or kidnapped. Or worse. Fuck!

I run faster.

My phone rings and I answer it mid-ring. “Jade?”

“Yeah.” I hear her voice and relief washes over me. “Sorry. We got disconnected.”

“Where are you?”

“I still don’t know. I checked and I couldn’t see any landmarks beyond that tall grass. There was just an open field and a car sitting there.”

“What did the car look like?” I stop running and hold the phone closer to my ear so I can hear her better.

“It was just a white car. It looked kind of old. Why?”

“Did it have a dent in the front end on the driver’s side?”

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