Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(86)

“No. Ford falls into the brother category. Not as much as Justice, but close. His mother’s trying to find him a wife. I don’t think he’s excited about the prospect.”

“So if he wanted to go out with you, you wouldn’t be interested?”

Surprise added to alertness. “No. What a strange question. Ford and I are friends.” The only man she could imagine herself being with was Gideon. The thought of trying to be intimate with someone else made her uncomfortable.

Pair bonding, she thought. She’d bonded. She wasn’t sure that was the same as love, but it was a step on the road. Another sign of normal, she thought happily. If only she could figure out his feelings for her.

“Do you think we should get Carter a dog? A couple of people mentioned it today.”

“There are many reasons to have a dog in the family. They teach responsibility and demonstrate loyalty. Does Carter want a dog?”

“He said he did.”

“Do you?”

“I’m not sure.”

They arrived at the house. He parked in front. She climbed out of her side and started toward the house.

The night was dark and still. In the distance, she heard the soft hoot of an owl.

“There aren’t any lights on in the house,” she said as Gideon unlocked the door. “What time was Kent dropping off Carter?”

“Around nine. That’s what Carter said. Maybe he went to bed already.”

“He never has before. He always waits up.”

But he wasn’t in the living room. Felicia found herself coming completely awake as irrational panic swept through her.

“Carter?” she called as she hurried to his bedroom.

“He’s not in the media room,” Gideon yelled from downstairs.

He wasn’t in his bedroom, either, but he’d left a note on his desk.

Gideon and Felicia—I’ve run away. I’m out alone in the world. It’s a dangerous place. Who knows what could happen to a kid my age. You should probably come find me.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

IT TOOK THE Fool’s Gold police department less than an hour to set up a command station. While Gideon waited for Ford, Angel and Justice to arrive, Felicia moved her computer into the dining room. The police might technically be in charge, but she was going to be running the show.

She had trouble with her computer. Something was wrong with the keys. They weren’t responding. It took her a second to realize she was shaking so hard, she wasn’t pressing them right. Then she sank down in a chair and covered her face with her hands.

She couldn’t do this, she thought as panic and helplessness wrestled for control. Couldn’t not know, couldn’t feel these feelings. All around her police officers spoke on cell phones and called out instructions, and all she could think was that Carter had run away.

Had she done something wrong? The question repeated itself over and over in her brain. She waited for some logical response or a pithy phrase in Latin. Instead there was only fear and the knowledge that if it would bring him home, she would gladly cut out her own heart and offer it to whomever was interested.

Someone pulled her hands away from her face.

“They’re ten minutes out,” Gideon said, his expression tense and determined as he crouched in front of her.

“Justice and the guys?”

“Yeah. They’re who I’d want on my team.”

He was trying to make her feel better. She wished it could work. “We need to find him.”

He straightened. “We will. I’m going to call in a heat-seeking helicopter.”

Not the technical term for the cameras that were sensitive enough to differentiate various temperatures from hundreds of feet in the air, but she got the point.

“Maybe later. First, we should start by searching the old-fashioned way.” Mayor Marsha walked over to them. She took Felicia’s hand and squeezed her fingers. “I know this is hard for both of you.”

“He ran away,” Felicia said, still trying to believe the words. “He ran away because I did something wrong.”

“While it would be easy for you to blame yourself, I doubt either of you are at fault,” the mayor told her. “Let’s think about this from Carter’s point of view. He’s a thirteen-year-old boy who’s had his life turned upside down. A year ago he lost his mother. Three months ago, his living situation dissolved and he knew he was going to be thrust into the foster care system. He had to find his father, make his way to Fool’s Gold, all on his own, and start over. A lot for anyone, but for a young man of his age?”

Felicia nodded. “You’re right. But he did it. All of it.” She looked at Gideon. “He’s so strong. I think he gets that from you.”

Gideon raised his hands and took a step back. “Do we have to talk about that now?”

“No. You’re right. We have to find Carter.”

“Did he take his bike?” Mayor Marsha asked.

Gideon shook his head. “It’s still in the garage with the other two.”

“Well, then, he’s traveling on foot.” The older woman smiled and released Felicia’s hand. “He can’t have gotten far.”

“Unless he got in a car with someone.” Felicia pressed her hand to her mouth. “What if he’s been abducted?”