Kidnapped by Dee Henderson Page B

the Benton sheriff.”
    â€œHe had an officer drive by their house and confirm that Sharon and Benjamin appeared to have left. He checked my place too since it was on the way. His patrols haven’t seen either car.”
    â€œThe clinic doesn’t get an answer when they page Sharon?”
    â€œNo.” Caroline started rocking ever so slightly on the couch. “Something has happened to them.”
    â€œSomething didn’t go as planned.” Luke reached out to touch her knee and stop her movements. He was worried about Sharon and Mark, but it was a work-the-problem worry; Caroline concerned him more. He’d be managing her as much as the search. She wasn’t accustomed to a crisis like this, and only a cynic would want to push someone out of her sheltered life to learn the coping skills this would require. “Relax, that’s an order.”
    Her gaze touched his for a moment and immediately shifted away as a blush chased the pallor from her cheeks. A year of dating her and he still had the bad habit of embarrassing her.
    He quietly sighed and moderated his voice. “It’s going to be okay, Caroline. If Sharon and Ben coming in first had car trouble, Mark would have seen their car and stopped to help. I’m betting they’re together. And I’m willing to bet on a Labor Day weekend it is possible to go over three hours hassling with the system to get a tow truck and a phone that works.”
    He checked her list one last time and made a couple decisions. “I want you to get a folder or sack and walk through the house here, collect any address books, calendars, day planners, church phone directories, or work phone sheets you can find. If it has a phone number on it, bring it.
    â€œEveryone is a creature of habit: he’ll call a garage he used in the past, a rental car company, even a credit card company that provides roadside service. We’ll find what we need somewhere in those numbers. After that, get your purse and shoes. We’ll drive the interstate back to Benton.”
    She squeezed his hand. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re here. Give me a couple minutes.” She got up to head to Mark’s study.
    Luke waited until Caroline left the room. He called Jackie back. “I need someone to sit here and listen for the phone who can watch a couple movies and stay awake. Someone who doesn’t panic if there’s bad news to relay. Does a name suggest itself?”
    â€œTry Mary Treemont. She works night shifts for the dispatch center. She’s off this weekend and would do it for babysitting money if you throw in a bonus for the last-minute call. I use her as backup all the time. Hold on, I’ll find her number.”
    Luke closed his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose. His family was missing. At least Caroline has the smarts to look as scared as she feels. He’d freeze up like she was doing if he let himself feel it.
    Jackie read the number off to him and he added it to Caroline’s list. “We’re heading back to Benton. Odds are still good that this is car trouble, but if that changes, can you be ready to run the search from here? I’ll leave a packet on the counter,” he said calmly, knowing what he was saying. A missing persons case for an entire family would require dozens of law enforcement officers, hundreds of searchers, thousands of flyers.
    â€œLuke, you know that’s a yes. As soon as you feel you need to escalate this, call me.”
    â€œIt’s appreciated, Jackie.” He selected pictures from the shelves and removed the backs to retrieve the photos. He put together a spread of individual and family photos into a folder. “Give me a couple hours and let’s see what we find in Benton.” The script for a missing persons case was one they had both run in the past. This wouldn’t get that far, not if he could help it. “Change of subject: If there’s a solid hit