Free Freeing Him: A Hart Brothers Novel, Book 2 by A.M. Hargrove Page B

with Kolson today?”
    “No, Dr. M.”
    “He’s not home and I haven’t heard from him all day. Something’s happened.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Of course I’m sure!” I yell at Sam. I’m freaking out. “I’m calling my friend, Case. He’ll know what to do.”
    “Okay, ma’am, but maybe he was detained somewhere.”
    “Sam. Kolson would’ve called.”
    Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
    My hands are shaking so much, I have trouble dialing. Finally I get it right.
    “Gabby? What’s up?” Case answers.
    “I can’t find Kolson.”
    “Are you two okay?”
    “Yes, we’re fine! He’s missing, goddammit!”
    “Okay, calm down.”
    “I can’t. My boyfriend hasn’t returned any calls or texts and it’s two o’clock in the morning and you’re telling me to calm down. I can’t calm the fuck down!”
    “Jesus. I’m coming over.”
    It takes Case an eternity to get here. I’m half out of my mind by the time he does. I know I look like one of my patients who needs to be admitted but I can’t control myself. I’m certain something dreadful has occurred.
    Case takes my hands in his. “Where’s your liquor cabinet?”
    “In there.”
    He drags me behind him and pours a glass of something. I don’t even notice what it is. That’s how fucked my mind is right now.
    “Sit.” He points to the couch and sits next to me. “Start from the beginning.”
    I do, and when I finish, he asks, “Mind if I take a look around?”
    “No, go right ahead.”
    “What was he wearing?”
    “I don’t know. He was at his desk and I didn’t pay attention. A sports shirt and pants. No tie but I don’t know which shirt or pants.”
    Case nods and goes into our bedroom. He looks in the closet and comes out, glances around the room, but doesn’t say anything.
    “Where’s his office?”
    “Down there. Follow me.”
    I lead the way and he walks in and takes a look around, picks a bunch of stuff up, and rifles through papers.
    He cocks his head and says, “He never went to work.”
    “Huh?”
    “Whatever happened, happened from here. Who goes to work without their cell phone or brief case?”
    I walk to his desk and there sits his phone. Grabbing it, I look at all the missed calls and texts from me, among the many others from Jack and God knows who else.
    “What the hell?”
    “See anything on there you recognize?”
    “No. I know he said something about a meeting today and that he was going to be late. He said not to wait on dinner for him.”
    I continue to scroll and I come upon the one from his dad.
    “What the fuck!”
    “What is it?”
    “A text from his dad about joining his company and going to Vegas.”
    “Interesting.”
    “Yeah, since Kolson hates his dad and would never even consider it.”
    “Gabs, how much do you know about Kolson’s dad?”
    “Enough to know I don’t want to know any more. He’s an ass, a creep, and a son of a bitch.”
    “Do you know his suspected involvement in …”
    “Organized crime?”
    “Okay, as long as we’re on the same page.”
    “Yeah. Kolson’s not like him in any way, Case. You need to know and understand that right now. He left his dad’s organization for that reason. Well, that’s one of the reasons.”
    Case looks around some more but finally says, “It’s late. I’ll crash here tonight and in the morning, I’ll call my NYPD connections. You can’t report a missing person for twenty-four hours anyway. That’ll be our timeline. How does that sound?”
    “The best we can do. I’m afraid his dad may have done something to him.”
    Case doesn’t look very reassuring when he says, “Let’s not jump to conclusions yet.”
    “Thanks for coming up here.”
    He hugs me. “What else could I do, my friend?”
     
    ***
     
    In the morning, Kolson’s phone rings. I grab it. It’s Jack.
    “Have you talked to him?” I ask.
    “No. He missed the meetings yesterday. I don’t know where he is.”
    “Oh, Jack. It’s like he vanished. I found his phone here in