This chapter takes place on the night that Gray found Doyle.

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Kasper sipped his drink and looked around the parlor. Seeing Tate and Jimmy together was weird. For years they hated each other. The new couple laughed with Ivy and Baxter.

Where was Doyle? Kasper should go talk to her. He worried she was more messed up than the usual party girl. He knew her vice of choice was weed with occasional lines of coke at nightclubs and parties. Kasper didn't touch anything except weed, and hadn't touched the stuff in months.

His father walked over to him as he was about to find Doyle. "What have you been keeping busy with?"

"Modeling. I have my next show lined up."

Philip shook his head. "I tried to support you, but Kanes don't find wives on television." Kasper wanted to win. "Did you see the financial report I sent you?" Kasper nodded. Philip loved to talk business.

When the two couples made excuses to leave, Kasper escaped his father and ran upstairs. He knocked on Doyle's door. When she didn't answer, he turned the knob. Inside her room was empty. Except for her camera equipment in the corner, it looked like she hadn't been home.

Shit! An icy chill ran through him. He had never felt so weird. Maybe he was second hand high, but that was hours ago. He missed Doyle. She was never home and left without saying goodbye.

Back downstairs the parlor was empty. Percy was directing a new maid to clean up the discarded glasses. "Then finish in the dining room." Percy turned to Kasper. "May I help you?"

"When did Doyle leave?"

Percy's face fell like a man who got caught abandoning his post. "I didn't realize she had."

Kasper sighed. "Looks like she went to join the band."

"I wish she would stay home. I can pour you another drink."

"No, thank you."

Kasper felt restless, unusually so. He replayed his conversation and decided the financial reports were a good distraction. It was too early for bed.

Kasper jumped when the house phone rang. Percy moved quickly from the dining room to the front hall to answer. Kasper stood and walked to the hall feeling unease again. Who called after midnight?

Percy answered as always, "Kane residence."

Kasper took large strides as their butler's face paled. "Hold please." He held out the receiver. "Here. I need to wake your father."

Kasper took the phone like a grenade. "This is Kasper Kane."

"I told your..."

"Butler."

"Right. We are sending a detective to speak to the family of Doyle Kane."

"What's happened? Is she okay?"

"I wish I could answer you."

"Is she under arrest?" Kasper wondered which lawyer to call. Not Tate.

"Arrested? No. Detective Lachlan is on his way with the details."

The line went dead and Kasper realized his hand was shaking. His heart was beating fast, but it was still ticking. Surely, if Doyle was dead, his heart would falter. He walked to the parlor to pour a drink.

Percy appeared. "What did he say?"

Kasper shook his head. His voice cracked. "Nothing. She's not arrested." A sick feeling inside made him wish she had been. They could bail her out.

The doorbell made him physically jump. He and Percy looked at each other. Neither wanted to open the door to the unknown. As Percy moved to the hall Kasper followed him. His father came down the stairs wearing his track pants he worked out in and a tee shirt. He looked healthy, but bad news would be worse than a spicy burrito.

"Open it." Philip's voice was commanding.

Kasper's gaze went to the top of the stairs. His mother looked small. She wore one of her velour outfits she saved for at home days.

A tall man with reddish hair entered. "I'm detective Lachlan. There was an incident this evening..."

Kasper listened with dread as he explained Doyle's broken phone and the security footage of her being beaten and abducted. He kept shaking his head.

"I need to sit down." Kasper reached for his mother and she gave her weight over to him. He supported her as they walked into the parlor.

They all sat including the detective. Kasper studied his mother. Her makeup had been washed off, and she looked older than her years.

Philip's voice was stronger than Kasper's if he tried using it. "What are you doing to find my daughter?"

"The cameras didn't pick up a license plate. It was a dark Mercedes. Unfortunately, your kind were at a party at the hotel and so the security in front of the hotel is filled with similar cars. We'll run the license plates against the guest list but that will take time. Anyone on the guest list wouldn't be involved with the rock band."

Kasper looked at his mother. "What was the event?"

Amelia mumbled. "The arts. I had accepted, but I wanted to celebrate Tate so I sent a check."

Philip cleared his throat. "What about the rockers?"

The detective said, "They are being questioned. We'll do everything we can to find your daughter."

Philip stood, and the detective followed him. "When will we hear from you?"

"Someone will give you updates or if we have definitive news."

Definitive like her body. "She's not dead. I would know."

Philip looked at his son and decided to trust him. The alternative was unimaginable.

The detective looked at Kasper accusingly. "What do you know?"

Philip spoke before Kasper could. "They are twins and are very close."

The detective looked at Kasper again. "Where were you from ten to ten-thirty?"

"In this room working. Percy can vouch for me."

The detective turned to Percy who stood in the background looking as sick as Philip felt. "Mr. Kane was here while the maids cleaned up after the rest of the family left."

"Left?"

Philip walked towards the door sweeping the insulting man with him. "We had a family dinner. Doyle left first to join the band. My older children went home at about ten. We are not your suspects. If you continue I will call the mayor in the morning to complain."

Philip wasn't joking with his threat. Percy walked the detective the rest of the way to the door and Philip turned to his wife and son when the door clicked.

A sob escaped from Amelia, and Philip went to her. Very little made Amelia cry, his heart attack was the only time. Even the day she found out about Ellie, she didn't cry like most women would. Even Philip's stodgy mother cried at happy events, but not Amelia.

He sat next to her and took her hand in his. "Trust Kasper. Remember how close they have always been."

"She's hurt with a stranger." She sobbed.

Kasper said, "Maybe it was planned. Maybe he's with the band."

Philip remembered the detective's words about how the stranger hit him. "None of it makes sense. She should be at a hospital." Philip ran his hands through his hair.

Kasper said, "What do we do? I can't sleep with her in danger."

Amelia stood. "I'm taking my pills."

"I'll help you upstairs." Philip put his arm around her slight body and walked with her.

She had always been so thin. His mind wandered to when she was carrying the twins. His heart squeezed, but not like an attack. Doyle was as unique as all his children. His talented daughter was full of passion.

Once Amelia had swallowed her sleeping pill, Philip helped her into the bed they had shared for thirty-three years. Their marriage was always lukewarm in bed. Amelia viewed marital acts like a priest, purely for the purpose of procreating. After the twins, she didn't offer herself in the bedroom. Anytime he asked he felt like she was doing him a favor. When he found his way back to Ellie again, his libido awakened.

Philip kissed her forehead like he had his children during countless tuck ins. She reached out her hand. "Are you coming to bed?"

He took her hand. "Soon. I want to check on Kasper." Their son looked beaten mentally, but Philip worried he had lied to the detective.

Amelia fell into her medicated sleep, and Philip left their room. Downstairs, Kasper had another drink in his hand. Philip poured himself a Sambuca. He drank it the first time with Ellie, a very long time ago.

Kasper looked at him with saucer eyes like he had as a child. "Baxter and Tate don't know."

"Let them sleep tonight. There is nothing any of us can do but pray."

Kasper asked, "Do we pray?"

Philip sighed. "I failed my children with lack of religion." Because the adulterer didn't belong in church. "I pray for my children's happiness and safety, not for myself." He sipped his drink. "You told that detective you were working."

Kasper looked up. "I was. When I realized Doyle had snuck out, I felt lonely. She's been gone so long."

"She's always a little lost when you go off on your shows."

"I know. I didn't have anything to do, so I was looking at the financials you sent me."

Philip shook his head. "You are so good with reports but you hate to work."

"I don't have to like something just because it's easy."

Philip ignored his son's remark. "Will you try to sleep?"

Kasper shrugged and drained his glass. "I might lie down in Doyle's bed."

"I'll be up shortly. I want to finish my drink."

Once Kasper disappeared upstairs, Philip went to his study. Contradicting his own words about letting his children sleep, he called Ellie.

She answered groggily. "Philip, what's wrong?"

A sob escaped him. "Doyle is missing." He told her what they knew.

"Oh, my love. I wish I could hold you."

"I'm so worried. If anything happens to her, we'll all..." be devastated.

"I know. I know."

"But Kasper, it will kill him."

"Oh, my darling."

"He says she's alive."

"Then she is." He looked at his desk and sighed. "She took the cross. I hope she didn't kiss the bastard before he hit her."

"She's a clever girl."

"I would gladly trade away the cross to get her home safely."

"I know how precious your children are to you. Philip, how's Amelia?"

"A mess. She took her sleeping pills."

"Please be there for her. She is a mother. I understand. I can get updates through Ivy, don't worry about me."

"I'll always need you, Ell."

"I know. Try to sleep. At the risk of nagging like your wife, you need to rest."

"I wish."

Ellie sighed. "I know what you wish, but life worked out this way. I'll pray for your little girl and for you."

"Thank you, my love."

"Goodnight."

Philip slowly climbed the stairs and slipped into bed next to Amelia. He may love Ellie, but Amelia's familiar breathing helped him rest. Whatever happened in the morning would be hard enough to face.

Thank you for all the love for Doyle and Gray. Thanks for all your reads, votes and comments. You are the best readers ever❤️

Up next the last of The Cross Series --- Kasper's story. Add it to your library and public reading lists today.