Meanwhile, Janina was leaving the restaurant after dinner with her friends. She pulled her phone from her purse and finally saw West's message.
West was in a bad mood and went for a walk?
That felt... weird.
The only thing that could put West in a bad mood was the recent trouble at The Tasting Room. But knowing him, he wouldn't let his work emotions get the better of him, and he certainly wouldn't go for a walk late at night.
With that thought, Janina immediately called West.
No answer.
Janina then called her sister Natalie to ask if West had come home. Natalie said he hadn't been back at all.
Janina checked the time. Eleven o'clock sharp.
With the weekend starting tomorrow, she and her friends had been so happy chatting that they'd lost track of time.
When The Tasting Room was busy, West sometimes came home late, but now the restaurant was practically empty. Where could he have gone?
No answer to her calls.
No reply to her texts.
He wasn't picking up video calls either.
Seeing her standing at the door staring at her phone, Maggie nudged her. "What's wrong? What are you spacing out for? Let's go home."
"I can't reach West. I have a bad feeling about this."
It was a sudden, inexplicable sense of panic. Janina looked at her friends, her expression grave.
Maggie and Wendy Clifford also realized the seriousness of the situation. If it were anyone else, it might be nothing, but with The Tasting Room still under intense scrutiny, they couldn't rule out the possibility that someone might target West.
Melody's assistant had already arrived to pick her up for a night shoot.
Noticing Janina's somber mood, Melody patted her shoulder reassuringly. "If you're really worried, call the police. I have to go, but you guys be careful on your way home. Text the group when you get there."

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