Amanda's Wolves(103)

“I will, man. Just concentrate on your job and put that fire out. Let me handle this end. You’re no good to me dead, and I don’t want to have to worry about your sorry ass out there getting yourself killed because you can’t concentrate.”

“Logan, I swear to God. If you don’t stop talking to me and find our mate…”

“On it.” Logan snapped the connection closed and jumped from the car.

Two minutes later, Melinda and Logan burst into the foyer where Amanda was last seen. The young girl at the desk was petrified as she darted around a corner and returned with a woman named Margaret.

“What happened?”

Melinda grabbed Logan’s arm and squeezed. Good thing too. Logan knew for certain Melinda could be far more diplomatic and calm. “Amanda Williams. Was she here earlier?”

“Yes. Of course. She filled out her paperwork and left.”

The receptionist rounded her desk and grabbed her phone. Suddenly, she hung up as campus security stepped out of the stairwell.

“What’s going on?” the older man said.

Logan stared at him a moment, wondering how this overweight gentleman who could barely keep his pants over his belly was going to pose much of a threat against any assailant. “Amanda Williams was just in here to fill out paperwork…and she never made it back home.” He felt stronger as each word left his mouth. This was important. He needed to pull it together. For Amanda. For his own sanity.

Margaret looked pale. “I can’t believe this. I mean, I know people are opposed to Dr. Burnhart’s research, but I can’t imagine why anyone would go to any sort of extreme to stop it.”

“Maybe she stepped into a restroom? Women can take a long time in there.” The guy, Reynolds according to his nametag, hiked up the front of his pants.

Logan glared at him. “She isn’t in a bathroom.” He couldn’t very well explain how he knew this. It wasn’t as if he could tell the man he had a mental connection with Amanda that would allow him to reach out to her anywhere. No way was she avoiding him. She wouldn’t do it for this length of time, and according to Margaret, it had been a while since Amanda left her office.

The door burst open again, and Trace strode in. “What happened?” He ignored everyone else and came straight toward Logan.

“Amanda’s missing.”

Trace’s brow furrowed as he listened to all the details Logan had already been over with Margaret and then the security guy. Another woman entered as they finished speaking and introduced herself as Lucy Burnhart, Amanda’s new boss. “I can’t believe this. Are you sure she never left the campus?”

Logan shook his head. “I’m not sure of anything. I’m just starting where she was last seen.”

Laurie exited the stairwell next, looking frantic. “I went by the condo. She wasn’t there. I don’t believe she ever went back there.”

Two minutes later, they were scouring the building, but they found nothing.

They regrouped at the entrance. Trace looked at Logan. “How did she get here? Does anyone know where her car is?”

“I’ll start looking in the lot.” Laurie turned and ran out the front door.

“I can’t believe this,” Lucy said. She ran a hand through her short blonde curls and started pacing. “Where could she be?” she asked the room at large.

Logan felt as if his world was collapsing around him. He couldn’t breathe.

Trace grabbed his bicep with one hand and backed him up a pace. “Do not freak out. There has to be an explanation.”

“Amanda sure has a lot of good friends for as long as she’s been in town,” Lucy commented.

“Yeah,” Trace turned toward her, not giving her any more details. “Thanks for your help. We’ll head outside and start searching the area around this building.”

Laurie ran back in, holding something in her hand.

Logan’s blood ran cold when he saw the envelope. “Fuck.”

Trace grabbed the envelope from Laurie and tore into it. He scanned down the page.

Logan closed his eyes and held his breath. At least if someone left a note, maybe they would be willing to negotiate. “What does it say?” he gritted out.

Trace blew out a breath. “If you want to see her alive again, back off.”

Logan’s heart raced. “Then she’s alive.”

“I’ve been saying that all along,” Melinda muttered. “Trust me. She’s alive.”

“And look at the handwriting.” Trace held the piece of paper out for Logan to see.

Logan nodded. “Same as the previous two notes we received at the condo.”