More silence, the distant sound of another voice.
“I think he left, man.”
“But he was there last night?”
“Yeah. He was here. We got so high.” He laughs.
God.I drop my head in to my free hand. Drunk and high. Perfect. Knowing it’s probably pointless, but having to ask anyway, I try. “Do you know what time he left?”
“Nah, I’ve been sleeping.”
“When did you last see him?”
“Uh, probably like two or something?”
“Great. Thanks.”For nothing.I hang up and release a frustrated groan. “Jacob. Where are you?” I ask the empty porch.
Maybe . . . maybe I should call the cops or the nearest hospital. My stomach fills with ice-cold despair. I can try Marco first. He’s the local sheriff. I pick up my phone to call the station, but I haven’t completed dialing when gravel crunches in the distance. Someone is coming.
I stand on the porch, gaze fixed on the curve of the driveway.
Please let it be Jacob.
My breath catches in my throat.
It’s not Jacob.
It’s not the familiar, faded-green truck parking in front of the house.
It’s a police cruiser. The ground drops from beneath my feet, and my entire body flashes hot and cold.
ChapterTwenty
Archer
“Not many people work on the weekend, and I know tomorrow is Sunday, but we need to sign off on the rest of the paperwork. That way, on Monday, we can tackle staff interviews, and Tuesday, we can work on reorganization. Can you call someone?”
“Sure.” I glance down at my phone. Finley hasn’t returned my last text.
Nora rattles off the list of upcoming duties as we step into the elevator.
“Dinner later? Jess wants to see you. There are a few good places near the hotel, so we can drink and stumble home.”
I’m still staring at my phone, half listening. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Everything okay?”
“I don’t think Finley’s getting my messages.”
“Did you try calling?”
I nod. “On our last break, but it went straight to voicemail.”
“Maybe her phone is dead or something. Didn’t you say she’s teaching today?”
“Yeah. You’re probably right.”
The elevator dings, and a couple of people get off while others get on.