Two “Sorry for barging in, Russ,” Ryder McCall blurted, bursting into the room, his boot heels thundering on the hardwood floor. “What’s going on?” Russ stepped forward, blocking his path, hoping to also block Ryder’s view of Lynn at the same time. Having had just enough time to zip his pants, but not enough to close the snap, he let his hands linger there. “We can’t find Lynn anywhere.” Ryder’s face was set into a permanent frown as he whipped his hat off and hit it against his thigh. His voice sounded deeply troubled. “She didn’t come home last night, and Ashley’s really worried about her. Lynn doesn’t do things like this. She’s—” The words died a natural death when a movement from the bed caught his eye. “Damn, I’m sorry, man, I shouldn’t have come busting in here unannounced.” He started to turn away, then caught sight of a familiar blue dress on the floor near the foot of the bed. He frowned, then turned back toward Russ. He didn’t say anything in the split second it took to make the connection, then his gaze went beyond Russ and landed hard on his sister, who was sitting in the rumpled bed with the sheet clutched to her neck.
