Christmas Bodyguard Read Online Free Page B

have been informed and have returned to their classrooms.”
    â€œHave you made an announcement over the PA system?”
    â€œNo. Most of the students aren’t in the building yet. They were spread out because of lunch.”
    Anger and frustration surged through Slade. He gritted his teeth and started to count to ten. He made it to three. “Make an announcement for Abbey to come to the office. Maybe she’s in the building by now.”
    The man paled. “I’ll do that, then make another one in five minutes.” He moved toward the counter to the left.
    â€œSlade, have they found Abbey?”
    He spun around and saw Elizabeth threading her way toward him through the crowd in the office. The sight of her brought a momentary wave of relief. “No.”
    The announcement instructing Abbey Caulder to report to the main office blasted through the building.
    When Mr. Hartley returned, Slade said, “I would like to search, too, with Ms. Walker here.” He gestured toward Elizabeth, who stood next to him.
    â€œFine. Our assistant principal can accompany you.” Mr. Hartley waved toward a middle-aged woman who joined them. “Mr. Caulder and Ms. Walker will join the search for Abbey. Please accommodate them any way you can.”
    Sergeant Gibson stepped forward. “In the meantime, I want to talk to the head of your security, Abbey’s last-hour teacher and any of her friends you can locate.”
    Slade followed the assistant principal out of the office, aware of Elizabeth a few feet behind him. If anything happened to Abbey… The thought chilled him. Exigency spurred him to quicken his pace as swarms of students began entering the building, jamming the hallway.
    â€œLet’s check her next class first,” the assistant principal said and headed down a corridor to the left.
    Slade scanned the faces of the kids. A sense of urgency charged the air. Slade kept surveying the people as he passed them. No Abbey. Each passing girl that wasn’t his daughter made his heart pound a shade faster, hammering him with a fear he’d never experienced before: of losing his child. He forced air into his oxygen-starved lungs.
    The assistant principal stopped at a classroom and spoke to a teacher standing at the door as students filed inside.
    The instructor shook her head, then peered at him. “Abbey hasn’t come inside yet. I’ve asked a few of her friends if they have seen her, and no one has.”
    â€œThanks.” He barely got the word out between parched lips.
    Sweat beaded his brow. The press of people all around him prodded the fear forward to dominate all physical responses. He surveyed the students near him. His gazelatched on to Abbey’s best friend zigzagging through the crowd.
    â€œLily, I need to talk to you,” he shouted over the noise of the teens in the hallway.
    The sixteen-year-old looked wide-eyed from him to Elizabeth, then to the assistant principal. “Mr. C, why are they looking for Abbey?”
    â€œI came to pick up Abbey. Do you know where she is?”
    Her eyebrows knitted together. “Is something wrong? The security guards are looking for her, and now we’re having to come in early.”
    â€œShe’s needed at home right now.” And maybe for the rest of her life. I don’t want to let her out of my sight. His heart continued to throb against his chest.
    â€œWe were supposed to meet for lunch in our usual place, but she didn’t show up. Has something happened at home?”
    For a few seconds, words clogged his throat. He swallowed several times before he could speak again. “When was the last time you spoke with her?” he asked, ignoring Lily’s question because he didn’t really have a good answer.
    â€œRight before our last class. I have algebra. She has English.”
    â€œWas she okay?”
    â€œShe didn’t say anything, but I could tell she was