Capturing Hearts - Faleena Hopkins Page 0,42
Manny’s there with her. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Pulling out my phone, I see for the first time I’ve missed a ton of calls and messages tonight. When I was at the bar, I couldn’t hear them. I never checked my phone after I went home to eat. When Annie called after two, I picked up and didn’t see them.
For a brief second, I write off the amount of calls to people reaching out for the holidays, and I’m about to dismiss them and phone Annie to tell her I have to come get her in a cab, and to wait there. But something makes me hit the text icon, and I see five texts from Mark alone. Hitting his name, I read them.
Merry Christmas Fucker.
I just gave Nicole her gift. You were right.
B-man. Tommy escaped prison last night. Did you hear?
Yo B. I’m going to call you. It’s all over the news.
Brendan, I just called. Where you at? Hit me back.
My heart stops as I read the third one again and I hurriedly call my wife. As it rings, my body begins to shake. When voicemail picks up, I can no longer see straight, the room is spinning. I dial her again, my mouth dry. Voicemail again. I call the bar. No one picks up. I call Manny, but there’s no answer there, either. With veins slamming adrenaline into my body, I dial Knockout. Bobby answers after two rings, the music loud in the background, “Merry Christmas B-MAN! WOOHOOO!!”
“Bobby! Tommy’s escaped,” I choke out in a rasp. “I need you to go check on Annie. My car…it won’t start.” I start running for the door, crushing my phone against my ear.
He speaks over me, “What?! Wait, what? Are you serious?” He calls to one of his employees. “Hey, turn off that music!”
Barreling down the steps of our building, I gasp, “I’m dead serious. My car is dead. I’m going to run there. I can’t wait for a cab. GO NOW!”
The music cuts off abruptly. “Yeah! Okay! I can’t believe it. Wait, when?”
“Last night! It was probably him following her.”
“Oh man, Brendan. Okay. I’m sure she’s fine. Don’t worry! I’ll call you as soon as I get there!” He hangs up as I vault out of our building onto the sidewalk and break into a run.
Through the fog, I race down Mission past late-night stragglers and homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk. I go over the moments from our phone call to now. How long it took to find my keys. How I hummed and took my time leaving.
How I fell asleep when I should have been there.
How I should never have left in the first place.
A car honks and I look, hoping it’s her in a cab. But it’s a stranger honking celebration. Ignoring their wave, I keep running as fast as I can, my legs plowing so quickly I can hardly see them. After a few blocks, Bobby’s ahead in the distance, by himself waiting in front of Le Barré with his eyes on me. Fear explodes in my chest at her absence, and my mind pictures the worst. Is she inside? Is she dead on the floor inside? Tears spring to my eyes.
“Where is she?!” I come to a stop in front of him, panting. “WHERE IS SHE?!”
He stares at me, scared. “Brendan. It’s unlocked.”
A pain I’ve never known before takes hold of me. “ANNIE!” I go for the door, but he stops me.
“She’s not in there! I checked.”
I rush inside, searching. “Annie?!” The storeroom, the office, the bathroom, all empty. Picking up her phone and her purse, I stare at them like I can’t believe what I’m seeing. “He took her. He took her, Bobby,” I whisper, falling to my knees. “ANNIE!!!!”
Bobby grabs me and pulls me back up, shaking me by the shoulders. “Brendan! They can’t have gotten far. We’ll call the police and we’ll get her back! Where would he have taken her? Can you think of anywhere?”
Staring at my friend, I search my mind for any place I can think of. “He doesn’t have his apartment anymore. He doesn’t have any friends. Margaret! You call 911. Tell them you need to speak to Sergeant Lewis. Get him out of bed if they have to.”
He nods, remembering the name. “They’re going to send anyone who’s there now.”
“Fine. I just want him to know, since he’ll care. I want someone who cares about Annie on this.” Tears sting my eyes as I finish, “I’ll call