Lines Drawn (Drawn to You #2) - Ker Dukey Page 0,23
he picks up.
“Hey.”
“I’m at reception.”
“Just come back. We’re the only ones here.”
Dan meets me half way and embraces me. “What did you do?”
He points to my foot, and I shrug. “Fell on some stairs.”
“You’ve always been a klutz.”
“So, you’re recording?”
He shakes his head and runs his hand through his dark locks. “We’ve been recording what we can, but it’s becoming a real issue not having James here and…” He stops mid-sentence and looks down the hall and then back to me.
“Come in here.”
He opens the door to our right and switches a light on. The room is small with a couch and a table. There’s a counter with food and drinks laid out.
He gestures for me to sit.
“Drink?” he offers, but I shake my head.
“What’s going on, Dan. Why did you want to see me?”
He sits on the coffee table directly in front of me, resting his forearms on his knees and meeting my eye level.
“No one can reach James.”
“I know.”
“No, Antonia. I called his mum. She hasn’t seen him either.”
“What are you saying?”
“We’ve reached out to everyone he knows, and no one knows where he is.”
“So you think he has taken off…”
“His mum has reported him missing today.”
“What?”
“That’s not all.”
“Okay.”
“I asked her if James had a brother and she went crazy, demanding how I knew and asked if James had been seeing his brother. She said he was dangerous and I should tell her right now if I know anything.”
Tears prick my eyes and I want to scream, ‘He’s more than dangerous! He’s an animal, a murderer!’
“Antonia.”
I focus back on him.
“What the fuck’s going on?”
“I don’t know.”
He exhales and stands. “I don’t believe that. You must know something, otherwise you wouldn’t have asked me about this brother. I’ve known James a long time, and he has never mentioned a brother. In fact, he used to joke that being an only child was the reason for his mum being strict with him.”
Swiping away the stray tear from my eye, I get to my feet. “I have to go, Dan.”
“Seriously? You’re not going to tell me how you know about this brother?”
“You won’t want to know the answer.”
“Try me.”
My hands begin to shake and the terror of that day infects my system. “Dan, please.”
“Antonia.” He walks towards me, his eyes soft and his arms open. “You’re shaking. What’s going on? You can speak to me.”
I nod. “I know, but I just don’t have anything concrete to share yet.”
He throws his hands up in the air and then lets them collapse down at his side. “What the hell does that mean?
“I need to go,” I tell him, pushing past him to exit the room. He follows me as I make my way down the corridor and into the parking lot.
“Antonia! Antonia, is James in trouble? Should we be worried?” he calls out, stopping a few feet from the studio, but I don’t stop, I keep walking. I don’t know what to tell him. It’s not fair for him and the band, but what do I know? Only the past. I don’t know where James is, or if he’s running.
Pulling my cell from my pocket, I dial Detective Ross.
“Detective Ross?”
“It’s Antonia. Has James been reported missing?”
He sighs down the line and whispers to someone before I hear shuffling down the line. I check my watch and cringe when I realise it’s coming up to midnight there.
“Antonia, I was going to call you in the morning.”
“I’m sorry if I woke you.”
He grunts. “You didn’t. It’s fine. Listen, James has been reported missing by his parents and we’re looking into it.”
“My parents’ house was burgled while they were here visiting me.”
He’s silent for a few seconds, and I’m about to say his name to make sure he’s still there when he exhales and continues. “I know, Antonia.”
He says my name with caution in his tone.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
I flag down a cab and jump inside, telling the driver to take me to Gavin’s club.
“Detective, just tell me.”
“The report for the burglary states that only one room was ransacked.”
My heart rate rises, and before I even ask the question, I know the answer. “Which room?”
“Yours.”
“What were they looking for?”
“Well, I was hoping you could tell me. Your mother said she’s going to go through the mess and see if she can tell.”
“Do you need me to come home?”
“No. I think it’s best that you’re safe and around your friends right now.”
My breathing becomes heavy. “Do you think it’s him? Do you think he’s going to