Chapter 345 Missing At Night
Chapter 345 Missing At Night
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Evening had already draped itself over the city when Laura finally realized Quinn was nowhere to be found.
She had waited at home, pacing. When Quinn still had not walked through the door, she dialed Quinn’s number–only to meet the hollow hush of an unanswered ring.
Under mounting worry, Laura jabbed at her phone’s screen and called Harlan. “Harlan, do you have any idea where Quinn might be right now?”
“What’s happened to her?” Harlan’s voice came through, clipped with concern.
“I can’t reach her, and she hasn’t come home,” Laura said, her words tightening like a noose around her throat.
A small pocket of silence opened on the line. “I’ll find her,” Harlan said.
“All right,” Laura replied.
With Harlan’s resources, Laura believed he would locate Quinn before the night turned cold.
An hour later, Laura pushed through the glass doors of the police station. Harlan waited in the stark lobby with Weston beside him.
“You said on the phone that Julius took Quinn away. What on earth happened?” Laura demanded, words tumbling out ahead of her racing pulse.
Harlan’s mouth thinned to a pale, rigid line, his expression carved from worry and quiet rage.
An officer stepped forward. “We reviewed the street cameras. Ms. Quinn Bridger was seen getting into Mr. Julius Whitethorn’s car earlier today.”
“She actually met with Julius?” Laura’s brows shot up in disbelief.
Even if the two had met, Quinn would never have left her phone silent. Battery dead or not, her meticulous nature would have forced her to borrow a device or use a payphone to say she’d be late.
“We’ve already spoken with Mr. Whitethorn,” the officer added. “He assures us Ms. Bridger is safe and asleep. Once she wakes tomorrow, he’ll have her contact you.”
Laura blinked, momentarily speechless. Is Quinn really spending the night under Julius Whitethorn’s roof?
It made no sense. Quinn didn’t seem to have any intention of getting back together with Julius, and back when she lay in the hospital, Julius had not shown his face even once.
“What’s his phone number? Give it to me–right now,” Laura snapped, determination flaring.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the officer said, genuinely apologetic, “Regulations prevent us from sharing private numbers.”
Laura pivoted toward Weston in a single, urgent step. “You know Julius. You must have his contact.”
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Chapter 345 Missing At Night
“I do.” Weston admitted.
“Then hand it over. I need to speak with him–now.”
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Weston’s gaze held hers, unhurried and sly. “And why should I, Laura? What exactly are we to each other?”
Laura’s patience frayed. “I’m your girlfriend–temporary or not. So, are you giving me the number or not?”
Even if it was only a one–year arrangement, it still made her his girlfriend.
Weston’s mouth curved into a faint, almost playful smile. He unlocked his phone, scrolled through his contacts, found Julius‘ number, and held the device out to her without a trace of hesitation.
A sudden hitch lodged in Laura’s throat, refusing either to be swallowed or expelled.
A creeping realization brushed her skin–she might have stepped straight into one of Weston’s carefully laid traps.
Laura snatched Weston’s phone, her thumb already darting across the glass. Before her pulse could settle, the call to Julius was ringing.
A beat later, Julius‘ low voice slid through the speaker, smooth as chilled glass. “Weston?”
Laura ignored the mistake, spine snapping straight as a ruler. “It’s Laura Wentworth. Julius, what have you done with Quinn?”
Julius sounded almost bored, as though discussing weather instead of people. “Nothing serious. She was exhausted and went to sleep. Whatever you need, she’ll phone you tomorrow.”
Laura’s reply came out sharp enough to cut. “Tomorrow isn’t good enough. Where is she right now? I’m coming for her.”
Julius gave a velvet–soft chuckle that still felt like poison. “I don’t recall owing you that courtesy.”
Rage punched the breath from Laura’s lungs. “Julius, you-”
“It’s late. We’ll talk tomorrow.” With that, the line went dead.
Laura glared at the black screen, knuckles whitening around the device. For a heartbeat, she nearly hurled it against the squad–room wall.
She spun toward the nearest uniform. “Can’t we arrest him? That’s kidnapping!”
There had to be a reason Quinn’s phone was off, a reason she’d vanished so completely.
The officer managed a strained smile. “The footage shows Ms. Quinn Bridger getting into the car willingly, and she’s an adult. Let’s wait until morning and see whether she contacts you.”
In other words, the law had no hook to hang a case on.
Harlan, leaning by the doorway, understood that bitter logic all too well.
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He spoke, quiet steel threading every word. “Fine. Tomorrow, if Quinnie hasn’t reached out to us, I’ll tear
18:21 Tue, 26 Aug
Chapter 345 Missing At Night
the Whitethorn estate apart to find her.”
Laura turned to Weston, brows knotted. “Have you and Harlan tracked where Julius took her?”
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Weston shook his head. “No. We traced Quinn to Julius‘ car. The vehicle reached his Jexburgh apartment, then the trail vanished. Every nearby feed was scrubbed, and they’re both gone.”
