Their work had moved to data consolidation, which wasn''t the most critical phase.


    Although his mentor checked in daily, anxious and concerned, research wasn''t a one-day affair. They had to be prepared for the long haul.


    Eleanor grabbed her bag and coat and practically ran from theb. She got into her car and sped toward home, with two ck SUVs immediately following behind her.


    Eleanor knew Princess was a bit timid and often got scared byrger dogs, but she also knew Princess was familiar with the neighborhood and wouldn''t get lost easily.


    That is, unless something else had happened—an ident, or worse, someone with ill intentions had found and taken her.


    Eleanor didn''t dare to think about it further. The first step was to get home and start searching.


    As Eleanor drove up to the entrance of her residentialplex, she saw Joslyn anxiously scanning the roadside from a distance. The moment Joslyn spotted her car, she ran over, her eyes filled with worry. "Ma''am, I still can''t find her. I''ve looked everywhere nearby—"


    "Don''t worry, we''ll find her," Eleanor reassured her. Her gaze drifted to the two ck SUVS that had followed her, a security detail arranged byn and Mansfield Ellington. Usually, they stayed hidden, but now they were parked a short distance away.


    Eleanor immediately walked over to them. Right now, more people meant more hope.


    As she approached, the bodyguards from both vehicles got out. They were all tall and imposing. By now, the two teams had developed a working understanding. They had one shared order: to protect Eleanor''s safety at all costs.


    Eleanor addressed the stern-looking men. "Hello. Could I ask you for a favor?"


    Both groups responded in unison, "Please, Miss Sutton, go ahead."


    "My dog ran off somewhere around here. I was hoping you could help me look for her," Eleanor said, taking out her phone to show them a picture of Princess.


    "If you could send us the photo, Miss Sutton, we''ll start searching right away."


    Eleanor quickly added them on WhatsApp and sent them several recent pictures of Princess.


    "However, Miss Sutton, we can''t leave you unprotected. Please let me apany you while you search," Lanny said.


    Eleanor nodded. "Thank you."


    With that, the other bodyguards fanned out, searching the greenbelts and corners within a 500-meter radius.


    Even with the extra help, Eleanor''s concern for Princess left her feeling deeply uneasy Lanny apanied Eleanor and Joslyn back to the spot where they had been separated, and they began calling out for her again.


    They searched until 9:30 PM, when Eleanor''s phone suddenly rang. She looked at the screen and saw it wasn.


    She answered, "Hello?"


    "Mommy, when are youing home?" Evelyn''s sweet, childlike voice came through the phone.


    Eleanor''s heart clenched. She couldn''t imagine how heartbroken her daughter would be if she found out Princess was missing.


    "Mommy will be back soon," Eleanor said soothingly.


    Then, a deep male voice asked, "I was told you were already home. Why haven''t youe up yet?"


    Apparently, Lanny was supposed to


    report her


    movements, but he must


    have forgotten to updaten after


    she asked for his help.


    >


    Eleanor had no choice but to exin. "Princess is missing. Joslyn and


    are looking for her downstairs. Let''s


    not tell Evelyn for now. We''ll wait


    until we find her."


    "What?"n on the other end was clearly shocked. After all, to him, Princess was


    more than just a pet.