Lynette Eason - Justice Mission

Carter shook his head. “We don’t know, but I’ve had enough standing around. I’m going to look for him.”

“Me, too,” Zach said.

“I’m coming, too.” Noah shoved his phone back on his clip and planted his hands on his hips. “But before we run out of here all hasty and unorganized, let’s get a plan of action together.”

Of course that would be Noah’s first thought.

“Wait a minute,” Katie said.

They froze.

“I don’t understand.” Katie crossed her arms. “Can someone please explain to me why you’re going to look for Jordan when he should have walked through the door way before now?” Katie asked, her voice containing a slightly hysterical edge. “And then tell me why he would have his phone turned off because if you can’t, then something’s really, really wrong .” Worry drew lines across her forehead and at the corners of her mouth. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I know I keep saying that, but I need to know where he is and if he’s okay. And you guys know something you’re not telling me. Now, please, what is it ?”

Sophie bit her lip. “We found a note that seems to indicate he’s in trouble. Everyone is getting ready to go search for him.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“We’re not sure, but we’re going to find out,” Zach said. He put an arm around his sister-in-law’s shoulders. “Let’s go over here a second so we can talk.”

Noah and Carter joined the two off to the side, and Katie gave a sharp cry. Sophie figured they’d told her the contents of the note. Ignoring the need to rush over and comfort her friend, she turned to the others. “Just so I’m clear, I don’t believe Jordan wrote that note for one second, but we can’t take the chance that it’s not real. We have to act as though he did and that he means it.”

Luke nodded. “I agree. But where do we start looking?”

Zach and Katie had returned in time to hear her comment. Katie shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “He wouldn’t kill himself. He didn’t leave that note!”

“We know,” Sophie said. She faced Katie and took her friend’s hands. “We don’t believe it either. Something else is going on and we’re going to find out, okay?”

“Yes. Yes, we are.” Katie lifted her chin and swiped her hands over her face.

“The guy who snatched me was messing with the folder when I walked in,” Sophie said. “Maybe he put the note in there.”

“If that’s the case, then we need to find Jordan immediately,” Luke said.

Katie nodded. “Exactly, So, what’s the plan?”

“Was Jordan headed straight here when he left this morning?”

“No,” she sniffed. “He was going to take Snapper out to the Vanderbilt Parkway and run part of the bike path, then go to headquarters to shower and change before coming over here.”

“Vanderbilt Parkway,” Luke said. Also known as the Long Island Motor Parkway. A big part of New York’s history, it was a great place to run or ride bikes now that automobiles were banned from it—and he knew it was part of Jordan’s daily routine. “Then that’s where we’ll look first.”

“We need to check any of his favorite places, as well,” Sophie said.

“He had a lot of favorite places,” Katie said. “Not all of them are in Queens.”

Luke nodded. “Then we’re going to need more manpower. Someone call Gavin and fill him in on what’s going on.”

“Today’s his day off,” Sophie said, picturing the tall, dark-haired, brown-eyed handler. Gavin Sutherland was another K-9 officer. His Springer spaniel was well-trained to sniff out explosives. And while they may not need Tommy for that reason, she knew as well as Luke did that Gavin would never forgive them if they didn’t include him in the search for their boss. “We’ll also need to get a BOLO out on Jordan and get his face in front of people as well as notify officers in all the boroughs to be watching for him.”

“No,” Katie said.

Carter raised a brow. “No?”

“You know Jordan. He’d hate that. There’s got to be some other way.”

“But we need to find him fast,” Noah said. “In order to do that, we need as many eyes looking for him as possible.”

“But—”

“They’re right, Katie,” Sophie said softly. “I’m sorry, but they are. I’d rather live with his anger than something really be wrong and we not pull out all the stops.”

“And besides,” Luke said, “that guy was messing with the folder. It’s very possible he’s the one who put that note there. If so, this could be some kind of setup to make it look like Jordan’s going to commit suicide. If that’s the case, then speed is of the essence before...”

Before he was killed.

No one wanted to say it, but everyone sure thought it.

Katie swiped another tear and a heavy sigh escaped her. She finally shook her head and planted her hands on her hips. “Okay. Fine. You’re right. We need as many people looking for him as we can get.”

The brothers nodded.

“All right,” Luke said. “I’m going to see if Dani can trace his vehicle.”

“Good idea,” Sophie said. Danielle Abbott, one of the department’s technical analysts would use the GPS attached to the SUV to get a ping on its location.

“Zach,” Luke said, “you get the BOLO out.” K-9 Officers Brianne Hayes and Tony Knight stepped forward with Finn. Luke turned to Katie. “Can you make up a list of all of Jordan’s favorite places and give it to these guys?”

“Of course.”

“Once Katie gives you the list,” he said to the others, “divide up. Bruno and I have the Vanderbilt Parkway.”

“And me,” Sophie said. “We can’t have the ceremony without Jordan, so we’ll just postpone it until he can be here.”

“Postpone the ceremony,” Luke said, “but you don’t need to go. You’ve just been through a major trauma.”

Sophie straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Jordan’s my boss, too. I’m as much a part of this department as the rest of you—”

Luke held up a hand. “I’m not saying you’re not.”

“Good. And I might even be able to identify the guy in spite of his ballcap and sunglasses. Maybe. So let’s not waste any more time debating whether I’m going or not.” She headed for the exit, limping slightly.

Luke frowned. “Fine. I’d rather have you with us anyway.”

“Thank you,” she tossed over her shoulder.

“At least then I’ll know you’re safe,” he muttered.

She grimaced but refused to comment. Instead, she prayed as they raced toward Vanderbilt Parkway. It seemed to take forever to reach it in spite of the sirens that moved traffic out of the way.

Dani had quickly gotten back to them, saying the GPS had been disabled on Jordan’s SUV and she wasn’t able to get a location on the vehicle.

“What could possibly be going on with him?” Sophie asked. “Jordan wouldn’t disable the GPS and he didn’t leave that letter, Luke. I think the man who grabbed me did.”

“I’d say that’s a real possibility, but we have to cover all the bases.”

“I know. I’m just saying that I’ve never seen Jordan so low he’d want to take his own life. Sure, he has struggles, but who doesn’t?” She shook her head as she envisioned confronting her brother about his—in her opinion—questionable decision to join the Marines. “But he’s not even close to being suicidal.” Especially with a baby on the way that he was excited about. But that wasn’t her news to share. “There’s something else going on and we need to figure out what it is.”

“What we need to do is find Jordan and let him tell us.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

“Keep in mind, though,” Luke said, “everyone has a dark side they never show the world. A lot of people have a hidden pain that can sometimes overwhelm them and no one in their lives ever suspects.”