Dangerous Attraction Romantic Suspense Boxed Set (176 page)

“Kate,” Ryan said, once the flight attendant was finished, “are you from Boise?”

“No,” she answered. “I live in Los Angeles. I’m a photographer there.”

“Oh, I would have guessed a model, not the person behind the camera.”

“Thank you, that’s sweet,” she said, “but no.”

“Are you going to Seattle on business?”

“No.” She was silent for a moment, floundering over a safe answer. “I’m going to see my sister. She lives there.” Kate wasn’t ready to tell this perfect stranger that her sister was missing, and she was going there to help find her. “Are
you
from Boise?”

“Yes…well, I was. I grew up here, went to Boise State. Then I moved to Seattle after graduation. You know, to make my fortune in the big city and all.”

“What do you do?” Kate asked.

“I’m a real estate agent. Fortunately, the housing crash hasn’t hurt the Seattle area as bad as it has in other parts of the country, so I do pretty well.”

“Home for a visit?”

“Yeah. I came for the weekend to see my mom and dad and go to a Boise State football game with them. My mom and dad are diehard BSU Bronco fans. They love their blue turf.”

“You can’t be serious.” Kate thought Ryan was kidding her.

“Even ESPN loves it. If you’re ever watching college football on TV and the grass looks blue, you’ll know it’s Boise State.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“So tell me, why are you in Boise?” he asked. “Weren’t there any direct flights from Los Angeles?”

Kate told Ryan about the flight troubles that had landed her—literally—in Boise. “That’s why I had the little mishap at the ticket counter—I was just so rushed. Thanks again for helping me up.”

“I’m glad I could be of service, ma’am,” Ryan said, as he pretended to tip his invisible hat. “Perhaps we could get a coffee or something while you’re in Seattle.”

“Maybe.” She nodded, not knowing what she would find once she got to Seattle.

Kate appreciated the mental diversion for a while, but her sister was never far from her thoughts.

* * *

The piercing voice of one of the flight attendants blared over the loudspeaker telling everyone to make sure their seatbelts were fastened and their trays were put away, as they were preparing for their final descent into Seattle.
What lousy timing
. Ryan was just about to ask Kate for her phone number so they could meet for coffee, but the landing announcement cut him off.

He found Kate attractive and engaging and wanted to spend more time with her. Now that they had landed, the pent-up passengers all made a mad dash to retrieve their carry-ons from the overhead bins and jostled their way off the plane. Since Kate had no carry-ons, except her purse and jacket, she immediately joined the throng of passengers moving forward to get off the plane. Ryan had to wait for a clearing to get his bag out of the overhead and lost sight of her.

Disappointed, he headed for the baggage claim area. He would casually ask for her number while they stood around waiting for their bags to come up on the carousel.

However, when he reached the baggage claim area, she was nowhere to be found. He walked around the luggage carousel several times, he searched through the crowd, but she was not there. He had sensed a connection with this stunning woman, but now he had no way of contacting her.

When his suitcase finally came up on the carousel, he grabbed it and took the escalator down to the outdoor loading area. Peering up and down the roadway, he still hoped to catch a glimpse of her waiting for a cab or a shuttle, but she was not there either. Disheartened, he hailed the next taxi in line and went home.

Chapter Three

The noisy baggage claim office had been packed with people from the troubled flight the night before, and the agent appeared overwhelmed with finding everyone’s luggage. Anxious to get to Whitney’s apartment to speak with her roommate, Kate was relieved to finally have her luggage. As she waved down the next taxi, she could have sworn that it was Ryan’s silhouette in the backseat of the cab she saw speeding away.

The yellow car pulled up. Kate threw her bags in the trunk and she was off to her sister’s apartment in the Belltown district of Seattle. In the smelly backseat of the well-worn cab, she sat in contemplative silence, mulling over questions she wanted to ask Suki.

Before she knew it, she had arrived. After paying the cab driver and retrieving her bags, she wheeled her luggage to the apartment building entrance.

A young man was leaning against the far left edge of the building, she noticed, smoking a cigarette. When she approached the building, he hurried away. He looked a lot like the disheveled young man with the ball cap and dull green backpack from her flight.
That was odd.
She shrugged off the uneasy feeling. There were more important things to deal with.

Kate pushed the intercom button by the entry door. Whitney’s loft apartment was number 310.

“Yes?” a youthful female voice came over the scratchy speaker.

“This is Kate, Whitney’s sister. Can you buzz me in?”

“Oh, yeah. Sure.”

Kate heard the buzz and a click of the lock release. She pushed the door open and found an
Out of Order
sign on the elevator. She sighed. Just what she needed after a long night. She hauled her suitcases up the three flights of stairs, and then, out of breath, she knocked on the apartment door. Whitney’s roommate opened it.

Suki had a head of deep red curls, layered to frame her round face. The red hair set off her sky-blue eyes. Dressed in a T-shirt and faded jeans, she looked like a teenager.

“Hi, I’m Kate.”

“Yes, come in. I’m so glad you’re here. I’m Suki,” she said, extending her hand.

“Sorry I didn’t make it last night. Like I told you on the phone, we had plane trouble,” Kate replied, taking her hand.

“I’m glad you called and let me know about the delay. I’ve just been so worried about Whitney.”

Kate pulled off her coat and draped it over her arm. There was something familiar about this young woman. “Have we met before?”

“No!” Suki cleared her throat. “I mean, no, I don’t think so.” She diverted her eyes and changed the subject. “Here, let me take your suitcase. I’ll put it in Whitney’s room for you.” She dragged the heavy, wheeled bag down the short hallway and lifted it onto the partially made bed. Kate followed close behind with her smaller bag.

“Why don’t you get settled and freshen up, and I’ll make us some tea,” Suki offered. “Then we can talk.”

“That would be great. Thank you. I’ll be just a few minutes.” The creeping feeling of familiarity stayed with her.

Kate glanced around her sister’s bedroom. The bedding was rumpled, a few tops thrown on the chair, shoes overflowing out of her closet. Whitney was not the meticulous person Kate was, but that was one of the things she loved about her sister. She was bubbly and carefree—a genuine free spirit. Kate wished she were more like Whitney in that way.

She walked into the open kitchen area to see Suki with a kettle of water that had just started to whistle. A plate of what appeared to be blueberry muffins was set out on the table. “Looks like I’m just in time,” she said, trying to lighten the mood before digging into the serious business of her sister’s whereabouts.

“Yes, you are. Just in time. Take a seat. There are muffins on the table if you’re hungry. I have green tea and Chai tea. Which one would you like?”

“Green, please.” Although it didn’t really matter. Kate wished the girl would just sit down and stop fluttering about so they could talk.

Finally, Suki set the mugs down and sat.

Kate blew on the steaming tea, taking a moment to organize her thoughts.

“Suki, I have a lot of questions for you.”

“I figured you would.”

“Exactly when was the last time you saw my sister?”

“Well, it was the day before I called you. Saturday—like I told you on the phone. Yes, that was it, Saturday. Whitney had the day off, but I had to work. I left the apartment midmorning. She never mentioned anything about having any plans that evening, but when I got home and she wasn’t here, I just assumed she had a date or went out with friends.”

“Has Whitney ever stayed out all night before?” Kate asked.

“No, never. At least not since we’ve been roomies.”

“Can you give me the names of any friends she might have gone out with?”

“Maybe a few. I’ll write them down for you.”

“What about a boyfriend?”

“No, I don’t think there was anyone she’s been dating recently.”

“How about anyone at her office, someone she was having problems with?”

“She never mentioned it if she did.”

“I know these are probably the same questions the police asked you when you filed the missing person report,” said Kate.

“Police?” Suki asked.

“You
did
call the police and file a missing persons report, didn’t you?”

“No. Like I told you on the phone, I think you have to wait twenty-four hours.”

“That was Sunday night, Suki. It’s been well over twenty-four hours. You didn’t call them yesterday?”

This girl can’t be that dumb, can she?
Kate drew in a breath and centered herself.

“No, I was waiting for you,” Suki replied, sounding defensive.

“Oh, Suki.” Kate felt her eyes grow wide with panic. “Today is Tuesday. The police don’t even know Whitney’s missing. That means they’re not even looking for her yet!” Her voice rose, despite her efforts to keep it level.

“But you told me when I first phoned you, that you were going to call the police yourself. So, I thought you had called them,” Suki shot back.

“I did call them, but they wouldn’t even talk to me because Whitney had just gone missing. I don’t even think the officer wrote her name down. But that was Sunday night. Now it’s Tuesday, Suki. Tuesday!”

Kate was frustrated with Suki’s lack of urgency, and she didn’t care to try to hide it. She shot up out of her chair. “We need to go down to the police station. Right now. Do you have a car?”

“Yes, but—” Suki began.

“But, nothing, Suki. We’ve got to get down to the police station and file the report.”

“Okay, okay. You’re right.” She raised her hands in submission.

“Then, come on. Grab your car keys and let’s go.” Kate sprinted down the hall to the bedroom to get her purse and jacket.

* * *

After a stressful and silent drive, Suki and Kate arrived at the police station. They approached the reception desk where a middle-aged receptionist with graying brown hair stood looking bored.

“How can I help you?” she asked.

“I’d like to file a missing person report,” Kate said.

“Let me get an officer for you.” The receptionist picked up the phone.

Shortly, a big, burly man with a dark brown buzz cut approached the reception desk with a clipboard in his hand. Maybe now they could get to business.

“I’m Officer Delgado. What can I do for you ladies?”

“I’d like to file a missing person report,” Kate stated.

“Who’s missing?” he asked matter-of-factly, looking her in the eye.

“My sister, Whitney McAllister.”

“How long has she been missing, ma’am?”

“Since Saturday, I believe.”

“Saturday? Why have you waited so long to come in?” he asked.

“I was traveling, and we had a mix-up on who was calling you.”

“Um, sorry, sir, I thought we had to wait. Guess I was wrong. So, can we just get it done now?” Suki looked sullen, and Kate fought down the urge to say something cutting.

“Sure. Here’s the form,” he muttered, as if he’d done it a thousand times before. He handed Kate a stack of forms on a brown pressed-wood clipboard with a pen attached by a string. “Go sit over there.” He motioned to the chairs lined up against the wall. “Bring the form back to me when you’re done, and I’ll get a detective to talk to you.”

“Thank you,” Kate replied.

Suki just shrugged.

The young women each took a chair, and Suki helped Kate fill out the forms. When they were done, they handed the clipboard back to the officer.

“Wait here just a minute, ladies, and I’ll get that detective.” He disappeared through a doorway.

Kate looked at her watch, and then over at Suki, eager to get the process started. She figured her sister’s roommate had first-hand knowledge of Whitney’s activities—may have been the last person to see her—so she was glad to have Suki along. She just couldn’t figure out why she hadn’t filed the missing person report first thing Monday morning. It didn’t make sense…unless there was something Suki wasn’t telling her.

Suki stood abruptly. “I have to go to work. You can take it from here, can’t you?”

“What?” Kate was taken aback.

She had assumed Suki would want to be there to help her, to talk with the police. “This is important. Can’t you stay for a little while?”

“I can’t be late for work again, and I’ve told you all I know.” Suki started for the exit. “You can handle it from here.”

“Wait.” Kate called after her. “Please, don’t go.”

“I have to. Sorry.”

Kate knew she couldn’t make Suki stay. “All right. I’ll do what I can without you. Maybe the detectives can call you later if they have questions. Okay?”

“Sure, sure,” Suki agreed, backing toward the door.

“Wait! I need a key to get back into the apartment.”

Suki twisted a key off the key ring as she walked back to Kate. She handed it to her. “I know where the spare key is hidden.” She walked away.

It’s okay, I can handle this. Kate took slow, deliberate breaths. It’s my sister who’s missing—not Suki’s. I can take a cab back to the apartment. Just breathe—

“Miss McAllister?”

“Yes,” Kate answered, sticking the key in her pocket as she turned around to her name being called.

“Hi, I’m Detective Raj Patel.” He extended his hand. He was a man of average height, mid-thirties, sharply dressed in a dark gray suit with a black tie. “Why don’t you follow me back to my desk, and I’ll get a little more information from you. Right through this doorway,” he said as he pointed toward the opening.

Kate followed him into the large, open squad room. There was a buzz of activity, with a handful of detectives in the room working on other cases, some on the phone, others typing away at their computers. The smell of stale coffee hung in the air. Patel led her to his desk.