Justice Mission. Lynette Eason

       TWO

      Sophie fought to catch her breath. “This reads like a—a—” She couldn’t say it.

      “Suicide note,” Luke finished for her, his brows drawn tightly over the bridge of his nose.

      “No,” she whispered. “He wouldn’t.” Her eyes met Katie’s. Jordan’s wife frowned even though she was too far away to know what was going on.

      But one thing was certain. Jordan had too much to live for to take his own life. Just last week Katie had walked into headquarters to meet Jordan for lunch and then suddenly made a mad dash past Sophie’s desk and into the restroom. Concerned, Sophie had followed only to hear Katie throwing up.

      “Are you all right?” she’d asked when the woman had finally emerged from the stall and finished with the sink.

      Katie had checked under each stall, then turned to Sophie and grinned. “We’re alone, so I can tell you that I’m absolutely perfect.”

      At first, Sophie could only blink. Then gasp. “You’re pregnant!”

      “Shh!” Katie had held a finger to her lips. “I haven’t told anyone yet.”

      “What about Jordan?”

      “He knows, but no one else. We’re kind of in shock, but it’s thrilling and we’re really just savoring the moment, you know? We plan to tell everyone soon. Probably after the first trimester.”

      “Good for you.” Sophie had hugged her friend. “I won’t tell a soul. What did Jordan say when you told him?”

      “He was over-the-moon excited.”

      “Wouldn’t what? Sophie? Hello?” Noah Jameson’s voice brought Sophie back to the present.

      She blinked away the memory and her gaze lifted to meet Luke’s, then slid around the others who’d gathered in front of her, their expressions confused and slightly wary. All except Noah’s. She never could read him.

      Sophie passed him the note. Noah read it, his expression shutting down even more, then passed it to his brothers. “You’re right. He wouldn’t.”

      “No, he definitely wouldn’t,” Zach said, pulling his phone from his pocket. “I’ll call him, and he’ll straighten this out.” They waited in silence as Zach stood and punched in his brother’s number, blue eyes narrowed. He ran a hand through his hair and pressed the device to his ear, his rising tension adding to the thickness already surrounding them all.

      Seconds ticked.

      “Answer the phone, Jordan,” Sophie whispered.

      But Zach was already lowering the device. “It went straight to voice mail.”

      “No,” Sophie said. “That’s not possible. He never turns his phone off. Especially not on a day like this. Straight to voice mail? That scares me a little.” A lot.

      “It’s scaring Katie, too,” Noah said with a glance at his sister-in-law, who watched them from her first-row seat in the auditorium. Too far away to hear the conversation, yet close enough to know something serious was going on and Sophie knew they were going to have to fill her in.

      As though Sophie’s gaze compelled her, Katie stood and walked toward them. Noah met her in front of the stage. “What is it? You’re all acting weird and being super secretive.”

      “Can you call Jordan?” Noah asked.

      “Why?”

      “We need to know where he is and I’m sure if he’s got his phone on the Do Not Disturb setting for whatever reason, he’ll have it programmed so that you’ll ring right through.”

      A door slammed in the back and laughter reached them.

      “Let’s move out of the auditorium,” Sophie said. “People are starting to arrive and we’ll have more privacy in the room next door.”

      She led the way into a room that held three sofas and a couple of chairs. A full kitchen dominated the back wall to allow for catered events. All of this registered in a nanosecond before they surrounded Katie and waited for her to dial Jordan’s number.

      With a frown, Katie did as requested, listened for a moment, then hung up. “It went straight to voice mail.” Her eyes darted from one brother to the next.

      Sophie’s nerves tightened, and Katie’s gaze landed on hers. Sophie knew what her friend was thinking. Jordan never turned off his phone. Ever. And if for some reason, he decided to do so, he’d let someone know in advance. Especially in case Katie needed to reach him.

      “He’s not answering her either,” Noah murmured. “I don’t believe this. This isn’t good.”

      “I have the password to his phone, so I can track it,” Katie said. “He always wants me to be able to locate him if I need to. I’ve never used it before. I’ve never had to.”

      “Then I’d say this would be a good time to do it,” Luke said. “Do you mind seeing what you can find out?”

      “Of course.” She punched in the digits, then lifted her gaze to meet his and the others who’d gathered around her.

      “What is it?” Luke asked. “Can you tell us where he is?”

      “Something’s wrong. It says his phone’s offline, but it shouldn’t be. He’s never offline.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’m starting to get really scared. What’s going on?”

      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