Page 77 of Her Intense Protector

“Oh no, Brody would have recognized that dweeb. For sure.”

“Can you tell us anything about the SUV?” Ezio asked.

“It was black with tinted windows.”

“Do you know the make? The model?” Kane’s voice was almost gentle.

“No, I don’t know those kinds of things. Brody might. It did have a dent in the front with red paint on it. Do you want me to call Brody?”

“That would be great. Can you call us back as soon as possible?” Again, Kane’s request was soft, trying not to upset the witness.

“Sure. Oh yeah, I don’t know if this is important. But there was a problem with Sam’s car. That’s the reason she had to take an Uber in the first place. Carl, down in the parking garage had to talk to her after work last night. I’m pretty sure she was going to have to file an insurance claim.”

Ezio turned and yanked open the door to the garage.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” He slammed his fist into the wall of the garage. Sam’s car wasn’t there.

“What?” Asher was behind him peering into the garage.

“Sam’s car isn’t here. I told her not to drive it. I thought that was the reason she’d taken a goddamned Uber.”

“Calm down, you’re not helping things.” Asher pulled at his shoulder to get him back into the kitchen.

Ezio knew he was right, but this was killing him. Where was she? What was happening to her?

“Who’s that?” Zsa Zsa was asking Kane. “Is he okay?”

“Never mind. Can you tell us Carl’s number?” Kane asked kindly.

“I could transfer you, if that would help.”

“That would be wonderful, Zsa Zsa.” Kane’s voice held a smile.

They all listened to the tinny music as they were put on hold.

“This is the parking garage. How can I help you?”

“Can I please speak to Carl?” Kane asked.

“Speaking.”

“Carl, I’m Ezio Stark,” Ezio interrupted. “I’m Samantha Brook’s boyfriend. We have a problem on our hands, and we think you might be able to help.”

“What kind of problem?”

“She’s been missing for the last fourteen hours. We can’t file a police report yet, but we can do some investigating on our own. She was last seen getting into an SUV in front of your building last evening at about five p.m. The receptionist from Lawton International said you talked to her before this happened. Can you tell us about your conversation?”

“Well sure,” Carl answered. “Somebody hit her little red car. It was the front side, it was smashed in enough that it wasn’t drivable. I filed a police report and I sent them an electronic file of our CCT recording of who did the damage.”

All the SEALs grinned.

“Is there any way that you could send that to me as well?”

“Do you think that would help? Are you sure she just didn’t go away with her girlfriends or something? Women do that kind of thing, you know,” Carl chuckled.

“Anything is possible,” Ezio gave a strained laugh. “But, just in case that’s not what happened, can I give you an e-mail to send it to?”

“Sure, shoot it to me, and I’ll send it. I like Miss Brooks, she’s one of the nice ones.”