“Hello, Tom!” I greet, reading his name tag.
“Hi, miss. What can I do for you?”
“We were supposed to meet my brother here twenty minutes ago. I was wondering if he left a message with you, if he’s expecting us somewhere else, maybe.”
“What’s his name?” he asks good-naturedly.
“Daniel Bennett.”
The smile he had since I walked in fades. A lump settles in my throat, a sense of foreboding creeping up the back of my neck.
“And he’s related to you, you said?”
“Yeah. He’s my brother.”
“Right. Mr. Bennett went on a trail this morning, and we received an alarm that he fell into one of the deeper cracks. A rescue team is already there.”
“A rescue team?” I repeat dumbly. Possibly my brain hasn’t processed the meaning of the sentence.
“Yes.”
“But he’s all right?” I grip the edge of the desk, bracing myself.
“We don’t know yet, miss. We’ll know more once the rescue team arrives and gets a hold of him.”
“Are you not in contact with him?”
“No, the alarm was raised by some travelers who saw him fall.”
“If they saw him, why didn’t they go after him?” I ask angrily.
“It’s dangerous, which is why a rescue team is necessary.”
“Oh my God.” Now the words sink in, and my chest tightens with panic. “Is he…?” I can’t bring myself to ask the words, but I have to. “Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Is he injured?”
“Yes, but I don’t know the extent.”
Gripping the edges of the desk tighter, I swallow hard, attempting to calm my racing pulse. “How can I help? We? Two other siblings of mine are outside. Can we join the search team?”
“No, only trained professionals are part of the rescue team. I suggest you and your siblings wait inside the restaurant. I’ll let you know as soon as we have news.”
“Wait? That’s all we can do?”
“I’m afraid so. Please don’t worry. Our rescue team is very efficient.”
If he thinks that statement calms me down, he’s completely wrong. Realizing there’s nothing more I can do in here, I head back outside. The sight of Summer and Blake sitting at one of the tables and laughing stops me in my tracks. Tension accumulates in my shoulder blades as I consider how to best break the news to them. Briefly I ponder if there is any way I can keep this to myself, avoid worrying them. But before I can come up with any sharp idea, they notice me. My expression must give me away, because both their smiles freeze on their faces.
“What’s wrong?” Blake asks.
Steeling myself, I sit next to Summer and relay the information the man gave me as calmly as possible. The second I’m done, Blake springs to his feet, storming inside the building.
“Poor Daniel,” Summer murmurs, her voice trembling. I hug her tightly, insisting they’ll find him in no time, hoping I sound more confident than I feel.
Blake is livid when he returns. “I can’t believe they don’t have more information.”