Page 29 of Now Until Forever
At the very least, it should’ve been something other than the mess it turned into.
He didn’t shut the door just yet. “What is it?”
She wasn’t going to tell him all that she’d just been thinking, so she settled for a simpler truth. “I’m worried about what happened to Luci. More worried than I am about whoever knocked us out and stuck needles in me—or why.”
His demeanor changed as if she’d snapped her fingers. All the humor in his expression dissipated, and fear clouded his face. “I was trying to keep it positive for you, but I need to know what happened to Luci.”
“Don’t hide how you feel. I want to know.”
Carlos stared at her for a moment. “I spent some time this morning researching any cases that might be connected and looking into the Reverence Sisters. I found a police report listing the group's name when someone reported them. It was never followed up on, but I called her and asked if she’d talk to us.” He got in the driver’s side and pushed the Start button.
Eliana glanced over. “We’re meeting someone from the group?”
“She said she was there for two months and barely escaped.”
She grabbed his arm. “Did she see Luci? Does she know where she is?”
His smile was soft. “Let’s go find out.”
Chapter Eleven
Carlos tugged his chair closer to the tiny coffee shop table, even though he didn’t really fit. He hadn’t lied to Eliana about being worried over Luci’s situation. Still, the truth was, he found himself more bothered by the fact that he’d never noticed anything amiss in that doorway yesterday. Finding his sister could have cost Eliana her life, and he’d never be able to walk away from that.
This wasn’t about which one of them he cared for more. They were both sisters to him. But Luci had always insisted she could take care of herself. Eliana seemed to invite the help, and when he’d asked, she jumped in with both feet to go with him. Even now that something had happened to them, she wasn’t backing down. Whether or not he was determined to keep her safe…in the end, it might not make a difference. All he had were good intentions.
Eliana sat across the table, sipping on coffee. Around them, the patrons had occupied every chair—except the one he’d snagged for their guest. A mass of teens, moms with kids, and older folks chattered and hung out.
Eliana peered at him over the lid of her cup. “You okay?”
He shrugged. “You go to that church every week? I haven’t found one yet.”
She nodded. “One of the people I work with at the Shrine recommended it to me when I started working there.”
“You say that like it’s a normal place for someone to work.” Another thing he wanted to talk to her about. After they found Luci? Maybe he didn’t want to wait that long.
Eliana stiffened.
“You’re deceiving everyone who works there by not telling them who you really are.”
“That might be true,” Eliana said. “If they didn’t already know exactly who I am. Why do you think they reached out to me and offered me a job?”
“Why do you wear a wig at work, then?” They didn’t have much time before his source showed up, but Eliana might actually be telling him the truth right now.
“Visitors and guests would recognize me.” Eliana shifted in the chair, her slender shoulders shifting with tension. “It isn’t about notoriety. They know I’m there to find out about the organization that had such a profound effect on my family.” She shifted in her seat. “Heads up.”
Carlos turned slightly to the side and watched a woman enter the coffee shop, look around, and spot them in the crowd. He lifted two fingers, and she came over.
She was at least forty, her brown hair colored with blond streaks. Maybe older than forty. She wore jeans and a black shirt. Modest clothing, but current with the styles that seemed to change before Carlos had even figured them out.
He stood as she approached. “Faith Blackburn?”
“You’re the cop who called?”
Carlos nodded. “Officer Ryson, but Carlos is fine. This isn’t official business, as I said.” He indicated Eliana. “This is a familyfriend, Eliana. We’re looking for my sister, who is missing. Her name is Luci.”
She held her purse close to her body. At hearing this was about a missing woman, she stiffened very slightly. Definitely wary. “I don’t know anything about missing people.”
“But you know about the Reverence Sisters,” Carlos said.
