The door goes again, and Kat enters.
“Harper is going to stay at uni in case Lottie shows up there. Mum is also going to stay at home. I’ve spoken to the concierge at my apartment. If Lottie shows up, the staff have me on speed dial, and someone will stay with her until we get there.”
Elijah nods and motions for everyone to sit down. I open his laptop and call the two absent Frazer members. Both answer on the second ring.
“Any news?” Franny says, her usual pitch elevated.
“Nothing yet. However, we have some news.”
“Has she been kidnapped?” Harper says, her voice shaking. “Please tell me she hasn’t been kidnapped.”
There is no mistaking the panic in Harper’s voice.
“No, nothing like that. Or at least we haven’t received a ransom note,” I say, stepping in for Elijah.
I look at him, his face has gone white, his hands shaking. Gabriel moves next to him and grasps his shoulders.
“Come on. You’ve got this,” he says, giving him a quick shake. “No one is going to care. They love you and Lottie. That will never change.”
Elijah nods, although his spark is extinguished.
“Elijah?” I say, turning to him. I swallow when he looks at me with dead eyes.
“Pen, what the hell is going on?” Caleb says.
I look at Elijah once more, but he has sunk to the sofa.
“We think Lottie is trying to track down her biological father,” I say.
“Her what?!” Caleb blurts out
His eyes flash between me and Elijah.
There’s a silent pause before the room erupts, everyone talking over each other. I look up to see Franny looking on. She stares at me.
Oh fuck, she’s known all along?
“Enough!” I shout over the noise. “This is not helping.”
Everyone stops, their gazes moving to Elijah.
“There’s a list of people she tested,” he says. “We think she…”
His voice trails off.
“Who?” Caleb asks, stepping forward. “Who has she tested? I don’t understand?”
“Everyone who was there that Christmas and New Year. It looks like one of those names is positive.”
Caleb looks confused until the realisation dawns. I watch his throat bob as he swallows.
“You mean?” he says, his tanned skin having gone deadly pale.
He looks at me, and I nod.
“Can you call them, ask them if Lottie is with them? No blame, we just need to know she’s safe.”
He nods, knowing exactly who I mean.
