"No. It's been hours since we left the hospital."
"Did she say where she was going?" I would get on my knees at her front door and beg if I had to.
"No. I figured back to the office to pack her stuff."
"She's not at the office."
"I really don't know where she is, man. I did see her talking to someone as I was leaving the hospital, though."
"Who?"
I don't know. Some guy wearing a baseball hat. She took him back down into the morgue. I didn't see them after that."
Ice raced down my spine. "What did he look like? Do you remember?"
"Not really. Forties, maybe. Medium build. Seemed like he knew her based on the way they were talking. But there was nothing special about him."
"Luke. It was fucking Luke." Fear erupted in parts of me that I didn't even know existed.
"Who's Luke?"
"Toby, listen to me. Luke Graves is the Bayou Butcher. I need you to find him right now. I don't care what it takes. I haven't been able to get in touch with Caroline, and if you saw her with-"
"Whoa, slow down." His voiced turned serious. "What? Who are you talking about?"
"Tyler Graves's brother, Luke, aka Chip. He's been playing us this whole time, and now I'm afraid he has Caroline. I'm ten minutes out. Trace her cell. Send someone by her apartment. I've already called the office. She's not there. Please, Toby. Please find her. Go to his house, his office. Tear that fucking town apart until she's safe."
Toby paused for a moment and said with a sober tone, "Give me her cell. It'll take a little while to get it pulled, though."
I complied and waited as Toby started barking orders on the other end of the line. At whom, I didn't care. But he was sending his troopers out to every location she could be.
I had to find her. God, if Luke had taken her . . . My jaw tightened to the point I thought I'd break a tooth. I would kill him with my bare hands.
"Wash?"
"Yeah?"
"We're gearing up and heading on over to Luke's residence. It'll take us a while because we aren't in the city. I'll go ahead and call over to NOPD to get them heading out there, too. They might be able to beat us."
"Toby, please." My voice cracked, but I continued. "Please find her."
"If she's in this town, we'll find her. You have my word. Let me go. I'll keep you informed."
"Okay."
"And don't do anything stupid, Wash. This guy is dangerous. We'll handle it. You hear me?"
I ended the call without responding and immediately pulled up Luke's home address on my phone. If he'd had the parties at his house as I suspected, it was the best place to start.
Every second that ticked by was an acute torture. I called Terrell and asked if he had any other way to contact her. No, they just talked by text and phone. I didn't give him any details. He was alarmed anyway and said he was on his way back and I'd better have answers when he arrived.
I flew off the interstate and into the Garden District, running red lights and weaving through traffic. I ignored the hail of honking horns and frightened bystanders. I didn't care. I had to get to her. Popping open my glove box, I pulled out my .45 as I sped down Luke's street. I came to a stop just down from his three-story Italianate manse. A magnolia tree shaded the wide front yard, and the afternoon sun reflected from the windows.
After chambering a round and clicking off the safety, I eased out of my car and left the door open so as not to make a sound. I edged around the grass until I reached the first set of windows. I peered inside but couldn't see anything because of the glare.
I crept around until the shade of the tree gave me a better view through one of the windows. A kitchen, nothing of interest. I kept walking until I came to a side door. I tried the handle. Locked. Pulling off my coat, I wrapped the butt of the gun with the fabric. Then I knocked a pane of glass out, flinching at the tinkle of shards on the tile floor. Reaching in, I unlocked the door and eased inside, careful not to step on the broken glass and make even more noise.
The house was quiet, but not empty. I could sense someone was here. The layout was unfamiliar, but I resolved to check every room until I found her. Since the kitchen was clear, I moved clockwise, heading to the front of the house. I passed through a library. A muffled sound drifted to me from one of the other rooms. I couldn't make it out, but it was high pitched.
My legs moved faster, pushing me toward the sound, toward her. I raised the gun and passed through a foyer, the afternoon light shooting through the transom blinding me for a second.