Page 79 of August 20

Mrs. Schaff straightened, and her eyes rounded at the sight of him. While he'd never talked to her, he'd attended the before-school meeting when Skye learned about her new classroom and met the teacher.

"Where's Skye?" he asked.

"She was released along with the other kids." Mrs. Schaff waved her hand at one of the passing kids. "Did your wife pick her up?'

Every muscle tensed. Brooke was at work. He was here. Skye was supposed to be here.

He pushed his way through the crowd and entered the school. Maybe Skye stayed behind the others. Maybe she needed to use the restroom, or she dropped her backpack.

A man in a suit walked toward him. "Excuse me, but no parents can be inside the school after the bell rings."

"My daughter." He coughed. "Where is she?"

His throat closed. He grabbed his neck as the spasm took hold. He tried clearing, creating a vibration in the muscles that tightened, but he had no time.

"Skye Jenkins." He grabbed the front of the man's coat and brought him close. "Find her."

Mrs. Schaff appeared beside him. "Please, let Principal Dale go. We'll look for Skye. She must be around here somewhere.

He let go of the man and turned, following the teacher. She spoke to other adults, putting them on the lookout for Skye. Telling the others what Skye was wearing.

Mrs. Schaff glanced at Maverick. "She's a good girl."

No one needed to tell him about his daughter. They needed to find her.

Fifteen minutes later, the school had been searched and cleared. Skye was not inside. Maverick pulled out his phone and called Jagger, not taking the time to text.

"Yeah?" answered Jagger.

"Skye's gone. I need—" His throat attacked him. He coughed harshly, struggling to get air as his muscles constricted. "Help. Help— me find her."

Dropping the phone into his vest pocket, he went to the sidewalk and scanned the road.

The cars were gone.

The kids were gone.

The buses were gone.

Skye was gone.

Beside him, Principal Dale called 911 to report Skye missing. As Maverick let the other man talk, informing the police on what his daughter looked like, what she was wearing, and how old she was, he could only stand there.

He couldn't even say that much without his body betraying him.

A roar rumbled in his chest, adding to the pain in his throat. Who would take his daughter?

His body vibrated, knowing the answer. He shook his head at his own question, not wanting to believe Brooke would take her.

They'd worked through their trust issues. Brooke had let him pick up Skye on her workdays. They were working well together, raising Skye.

Had she only pretended the whole time? Had she outplayed him, forcing his guard down?

His fingers curled, and he fisted his hands, swinging around and slamming his fists down on the top of the car. He couldn't lose his family.

Chapter Thirty Nine

Brooke grabbed her purse. There were still twenty minutes until she had to close Whale's Tail Coffee Shop, but she couldn't stay any longer.