Chapter179Missing
Patriciareturnedtothehotndhurriedtotheconferenceroom.Shepushedthedooropenandshouted<b>.</b>“Ohno!Emeliehasgonemissing!”
Everyonewhowaspreparingtosummarizetheday’sworkturnedtolookather.
Samuel stoodupabruptly.Hehadjustfinished dealingwithmattersinthbandreturnedtoWimstourCity.HehopedtoseeEmellereturnfromwork.Instead,hwiththe dreadfulnews.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.
“Whatdidyousay?”Samuelshouted.
<b>Patricia’s</b>actingskillswereimpable.“Today,we wenttoseveralsitestocollectdata.Afterfinishing,wepreparedtoreturntothehotel.
“<b>Emelie</b>suddenlysaidshewantedtousethe restroom.Butafterhalfanhourofwaitingwiththe<b>driver</b>,<b>she</b>didn’treturn.
“Ifeltsomethingwaswrong,soIwenttochecktherestroom,butshewasn’tthereatall!Herphoneisswitchedofftool
“Isearchednearbybutcouldn’tfindher,soIhurriedbacktofindyou.Let’sorganizeasearchpartytofindher!”Patriciaurged.
Samuel<b>asked</b>,“Whichlocation?”
“ThesiteatOpulentRoad.”
Samuelleftimmediately.
WilliamfrownedandstaredatPatricia,seeminglylostinthought
Jaydenalsofrowned.“Thisissuspicious<b>.</b>Emeliewouldn’twanderwhenshehadwormitments.Let’sorganizeasearchpartyfirstAlexis,youhandleit.”
Alexis,beingJayden’ssecretary,tookcharge
Williamthensaid,“Ashton,goandhelparrangeforit.”
Withothershandlingthesearch,Jayden,William,andPatriciastayedatthehotwaitingnews.
Almostanhouter,therewasstillnowordfrom anyarchteams.
Regardlessoftheirpersonalrtionshipsorsimply beingcolleagues,a<b>woman</b>goingmissingwasundoubtedlyacauseforconcem.
“Let’scallthepolice,”Jaydensuggested.
hewasgreeted
William,seatedattheheadofthetablewithhishandonhisforehead,respondedindifferently,“Noneed.Let’sfindherfirstEmelieisanadultwithbasicself–defensecapabilities.
Jaydenfrowned<b>.</b>“Whatif<b>she’s</b>beenkidnapped?”!
Williamcounteredbysaying,“<b>What</b>valuedoesshehavetowarrantsomeonegoingthroughallthetroubleofkidnapping<b>her</b>?”
Jaydencouldn’thelpbutnceatWilliam.
Emeliehadbeensoclosetohim.Theywere practicallymarriedbefore.Nowthatshewasmissing,whywasn’theconcernedforhersafety?Wasn’thedeeplyconcernedjustafewdaysago<b>?</b>
Patriciawasseatedinanotherspotandsaid,“Besides,ifan<b>adult</b>goesmissingforlessthan24hours,thepolicewon’tstartasearch,right?”
Jaydenpickeduphisphone.“I’llhaveAlexisgathermorepeoplefromthe sitetoassistinthesearch.”
Patriciaalsograbbedherphone.“I’llmakesomecallstoo,seeifanyonecanlendahand…”
Asshestooduptoleave,Williamrosefromhisseat.“Comewithme.”
Patriciapaused.Shecouldn’tleaveanymore,soshebitherlipandobedientlyfollowedhim
Williamlefttheconferenceroom,andhisexpressionsuddenlyturnedcold.Stepping intothecorridor,heheadedstraightforthesecurepassage.
Heforcefullypushedopenthedoor,withPatriciatrailingbehindhim.“Mr.Middleton,whatarewedoinghere…
Beforeshecouldfinishhersentence,Williamgrabbedherarmand flungherintoaco
<ol>
<li>a.<ber</b></li>
</ol>
Patriciastaggeredbackafewstepsandnearlyfell.Assheregainedherbnce,William’ssharpwordshither.“WhereisEmelle?”
Patricia’seyesflickered,butsheactedcalmandsaid,“Idon’tknow.”
Williamstaredatherwithasharpgaze,leavingFatriciabreathless.
“Intheforestto the<b>east</b>,”Patriciafinallyadmitted.
William’sexpressiontumedstem.“Youleftheraloneinthewoods?”
<b>Patricia</b>shruggednonchntly.“Taskedthelocals.Thereareno venomoussnakesorinsects<b>in</b>thewoodsthisseason.
“It’sonlybeenanhour.She’llbefineevenforanotherhour–Whyareyoulookingatmelikethat?I’mjustgivingyouachance tobethehero.”