Page 68 of Edinburgh Escape
“They aren’t. As far as I could tell, they’re not in the manor.”
“What’s wrong?” Alastair asked from the open stable door.
“Bryce and Maggie are missing,” Callum said.
Alastair shook his head. “I just saw them. They were heading to the manor.”
“They aren’t there,” Callum said, a terrible weight settling low in his gut.
“We need to spread out and check the garage, the garden and the grounds,” Ewan said.
“I’ll check the garage,” Callum said.
Ewan pointed to Atkins. “Go wide, check the perimeter. Alastair, check the garden on the south lawn. Bryce likes to play there.”
“I’ll look through the house again,” Fiona said and hurried away.
The men took off at a run.
Callum raced to the garage, where one of the overhead doors was up and the long, black car was backed into the bay. “Maggie?” he called out. “Bryce?”
No one answered.
He searched inside and all around the building and found nothing.
Ewan, Atkins and Alastair met him at the entrance to the manor. Gregory, Mrs. Jones, Cook and Fiona came out, frowns pulling their brows downward.
They hadn’t found them.
Callum pulled out his cell phone and hit Ace Hammerson’s number before he remembered the man was on a plane headed his way. He called Dmytro instead.
“McCall, this is Dmytro. Did Atkins make it?”
“He’s here,” Callum replied. “But we’ve lost Maggie and Bryce.”
Chapter 14
Maggie chased Bryce all the way to the garage. For a sick kid, he moved fast, especially when his horse’s life depended on it.
A delivery van was pulling up to the garage at the same time as Alastair emerged. He glanced toward the van.
“Alastair!” Bryce called out. “Help. Montana is sick. You have to help him.” The boy raced up to Alastair and wrapped his arms around the man’s legs. “Please. Help Montana.”
Alastair patted the boy’s copper curls. “I will. I will. You and Ms. Maggie should head for the house and let your mama know to call the veterinarian. I’ll go now and check on Montana. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him.” He met Maggie’s gaze. “The delivery driver might need a signature, could you tell them to wait before you head inside?”
Maggie nodded.
“Go,” Bryce begged. “Help Montana.”
“I’m going.” Alastair pried Bryce’s arms loose from his legs. After one last glance at the delivery van and Maggie, he took off toward the stable and disappeared around the side of the four-car garage.
The delivery van swung close to the garage in a one-hundred-and-eight-degree circle and came to a stop. The back doors opened, and two men in dark clothing jumped out wearing black jumpsuits and baseball caps pulled low on their foreheads.
Maggie frowned. They weren’t carrying any packages. Perhaps they were supposed to pick up something…? When they headed straight for her, her gut told her this wasn’t a delivery. She grabbed Bryce’s shoulders and spun him toward the manor. “Run!” she said. “Run, Bryce.”
The little boy took off. Maggie was right behind him.
Neither one of them got far before the two men in black caught up with them.
