Free Lost Library: An Urban Fantasy Romance by Kate Baray Page B

the trip, as evidenced by the travel packet he had provided and by the very fact he had found her and the book. So he would want her back. Surely. She hoped.

Chapter 1 2
    “Where the hell is my friend?”
    John held the phone an inch away from his ear and replied, “I’ll talk to you if you’ll stop screaming in my ear. Is this Kenna?”
    John wasn’t surprised that Kenna had his cell number. He was surprised that she called him, since they hadn’t ever spoken directly to one another. He’d delivered a packet of travel info to Lizzie and provided an extra copy specifically for Kenna, since Lizzie had told him Kenna would be checking up on her during the trip. It included the B&B’s contact information and reservation confirmation, the car rental confirmation with delivery arranged for the B&B on the morning after her arrival, the planned car route, and a few recommended local tourist sites. And Kenna’s copy had one of his business cards inside.
    Much quieter, but with great intensity, she said, “Again, I’ll ask—where is Lizzie?”
    “Are you telling me she’s missing?” John’s heart beat at a rapid tempo. Damn. He thought of her wide blue eyes, her ready smile. What had happened? He mentally shook himself. He had to remind himself that she also represented a connection to the past and an opportunity to learn more about Texas Pack history. She was more than a gorgeous smile. His pack needed her, too.
    “ My gut says you’re not responsible. But I’m having a hard time buying that you had absolutely nothing to do with her disappearance. You arrive in town, and a few days later she’s gone.” Her voice was strained.
    John answered the unspoken question. “This is the first I’m hearing of it. Tell me why you think she’s missing. ” John dug out a pad of paper from the hotel desk.
    “ We had an appointment this morning.” Kenna spoke sharply. With his sensitive hearing, John could hear her taking a slow deep breath. “She was supposed to call you this morning. To let you know she was planning to make the trip with you and to confirm plans. She didn’t call you, did she?” Kenna took a deep breath.
    “No.”
    Before John could ask another question, Kenna started speaking again. “Yesterday evening, we met to discuss her trip. Once we reviewed the investigator’s report and she handed off a copy of her travel plans, she left to run a few errands before heading home. I know the pet food store and pharmacy were both on her list. We chatted about my mom watching her dogs, and she mentioned she was low on food. Right before we said goodbye, I reminded her that she had been complaining of allergies the day before and should stock up on her allergy medication.”
    John could feel his wolf’s unease. He focused on the facts. Thinking about Lizzie, about someone touching her, maybe hurting her, would not help. He shoved his and his wolf’s anger back. The facts, he reminded himself. “Which stores would she have likely visited?” He scribbled down the responses Kenna provided. He also confirmed her cell phone number.
    John had a bad feeling about this entire situation, but he still had to check. “And you’re sure she’s actually missing? She didn’t just forget your appointment?”
    There was a reason he was so ready to believe. He’d been concerned other packs would show an interest in Lizzie, hence his earlier patrols of her neighborhood. Since her discovery of his wolf, he’d been more careful. But then she’d specifically requested some time and space to consider her next step. So there’d been no patrols over the last two days. And he was kicking himself for not heeding his natural instincts.
    Kenna replied, “We walk her dogs most Sunday mornings. We made arrangements to meet later than normal this morning. She was planning to be out late running the errands I mentioned earlier. When I went by this morning, her car was gone. She might have forgotten our appointment. Unlikely, but