Gone Missing by Camy Tang Page A

Agency to explain the situation. Liam was supposed to meet them at a parking garage in order to help them switch cars, but that was going to be harder to do now that they had to rely on public transportation.
    â€œGot it.” Joslyn ended the call and turned to Clay. “We’re heading south right now, so we’ll have to get off at the next station and backtrack, then catch a bus. But Liam is going to meet us at a small bus station up north on the way to Sonoma.”
    Several hours later, they finally arrived at the designated bus station, both of them weary. Joslyn had used the ride to catch up on sleep, and despite wanting to stay alert, Clay also slept.
    The station was an unmanned park-n-ride, and when he exited the bus, Joslyn immediately waved to a man leaning against a green Grand Cherokee. He was long and lean, with his brown hair in a buzz cut that emphasized his wide jaw and prominent cheekbones. Next to him was a young Filipino woman who smiled at Joslyn warmly and another man with a widow’s peak above blue eyes.
    â€œClay, this is my boss, Liam O’Neill,” Joslyn said, introducing the man with the buzz cut, who shook Clay’s hand in a firm grip. “This is my other boss, and Liam’s girlfriend, Elisabeth Aday, and this is Liam’s older brother, Shaun O’Neill.” The man with the widow’s peak shook Clay’s hand.
    â€œThank you for protecting Joslyn,” Elisabeth said to him. “She means a lot to us.”
    â€œNo, she doesn’t,” Shaun said, a twinkle in his eyes. “She’s a brat, aren’t you?” He tried to grab Joslyn in a headlock.
    She squealed and twisted out of his way. “You’re such a bully, Shaun.”
    Shaun looked at his hands as if surprised she’d gotten free. “Liam must have taught you some moves, girl.”
    â€œOf course I did,” Liam said. “I’m not letting you push her around like you did with the rest of us.”
    â€œI was toughening you boys up,” Shaun said defensively, but with an answering grin.
    The horseplay made Clay smile, but at the same time there was an ache in his chest. He’d never had a brother to joke with like this. But it was more than that—all four of them were comfortable with each other, shared the ease and love between friends.
    He’d lost any friends he’d had in the mob when he went to prison, and for the past couple years he’d been so focused on getting his life back that he’d kept himself aloof, even from the guys at his gym. He remembered the camaraderie he’d had in Chicago and missed it. He was tired of being alone.
    â€œYou two cavemen can beat your chests some other time,” Elisabeth said. Her expression sobered. “We’ve got other problems.”
    Clay’s shoulders tensed. “What kinds of problems?”
    â€œOur friend, Detective Carter, gave us a call because he recognized Joslyn,” Elisabeth said. “Someone on the BART platform caught you on video beating up a couple guys. The police are looking for you.”
    This day just kept getting better and better.
    â€œBut Clay was protecting me,” Joslyn said.
    â€œWe know, it’s actually on the video,” Elisabeth said. “There’s a one-second clip of Clay choking out one guy in a leather jacket, then rushing to hit the other one who’d grabbed you.”
    â€œLook, Detective Carter with the Sonoma police is a good friend,” Liam said. “We’ll go with you to talk to him and get it sorted out.”
    Clay’s first instinct was to run. His past had conditioned him to steer clear of the cops. But he couldn’t help Fiona if he was being pursued by the authorities for something that was pure self-defense.
    Then again, he couldn’t help Fiona if he was in jail, either.
    Joslyn was looking at him, worry in her amber-colored eyes. She was probably remembering Phoenix and the