Free Saving Me (Finding You #3) by Amanda Mackey Page B

I’d been worried for nothing. She never should have gone on her own.
    After scribbling a note and climbing into my black Audi TTRS coupe, Daniel and I headed out. It was hard to say exactly which route Dakota would have traveled so we opted for the shortest, most direct way.
    Dialing her cell again on hands-free while driving, I left a message asking her to call as soon as she could.
    When we reached the apartment it was two and a half hours since we’d last seen her. As we drove underneath to the car park, Daniel exclaimed, “She’s still here! There’s her car.”
    I loosened my grip on the wheel, only mildly relieved, not knowing why she would possibly still be here when the apartment was empty. Pulling in beside the Lexus, we got out, checking the doors on her car. Locked.
    “What do you think she’s doing?” asked Daniel, pressing the ‘up’ button on the elevator and waiting for it to descend to the basement.
    “I’m not sure. There’s nothing for her to do here. We took everything with us.”
    When the elevator arrived, we entered and ascended to the penthouse in an eerie silence.
    With each floor we rose, I became more and more agitated.
    Why would she still be here? We agreed she would get in and out as fast as possible. There is no reason for her to hang around. I don’t like this. Not one bit.
    When the bell rang signaling the end of the ride, we stepped out into the penthouse foyer. The door to the apartment was shut.
    “Stay behind me, Daniel.” I wasn’t sure why I said that but for some reason, I felt the need to protect him as my adrenalin spiked.
    Trying the door, I found it unlocked. We both crossed the threshold into the bare apartment.
    “Dakota? You in here, baby?”
    Daniel stooped down to pick up something off the floor. “Kyle?”
    “Hmm?”
    “Um, isn’t this Dakota’s necklace?”
    My heart dropped to my knees as I spun around, glaring at the necklace as if by seeing it, the final piece of the puzzle had been put into place. “Shit.”
    Acting on instinct, I ran through the apartment, checking every room. Panic held me tightly, squeezing the air from my lungs.
    Coming up empty, I spotted her purse on the kitchen counter. I dove into it, finding her cell and seeing the calls I’d made to her had been unanswered.
    Without even thinking, I reached into my pocket for my own cell and called my father.
    “Hi, son.”
    “Dad. Listen, I’m at the apartment. Dakota was meant to be here, picking up her necklace that she left behind. Her car is in the basement and her handbag is in the apartment but she’s nowhere to be seen. I’m worried.”
    Dad cursed through the phone. “Okay, son, how long ago did she leave the house?”
    My watch told me it had been way too long. “Nearly three hours ago. Her car is locked and her cell is untouched in her purse. Daniel has just picked up the necklace lying by the front door.”
    My voice rumbled out as my heart began to shatter.
    “You’re going to need to call the police. The sooner the better. If she’s met with foul play we need to act quickly.”
    “He’s got her, Dad. I just know it.”
    “Let’s not jump to conclusions yet, son, but there is a possibility of that, yes.”
    “I’ve lost her once. I can’t lose her again.” I remembered what I’d gone through when I thought she’d died in the plane crash. It had nearly killed me. In many ways though, this was so much worse.
    “I know. Call the police. I’m on my way over.”
    We hung up and I made the call that tore me in half. An officer was going to be sent around and would be arriving in around fifteen minutes. We were to stay put until he arrived and were advised not to touch anything in case the apartment became a crime scene.
    I let my legs collapse from under me and slid down the wall, keeping my knees bent. Daniel walked over and sat down next to me in a gesture of comfort. He put his hand on my arm.
    “I don’t want anything to happen to her, either. She’s