Tomorrow, they’d be hosting an event here—an unscheduled stop, slid quietly into what was supposed to be their day off.
There hadn’t been any promotion yet. No announcement. Just a room booked and chairs arranged, waiting to see who showed up.
They pulled into the hotel parking lot—beside a squat, beige building with a clean lobby and polite landscaping. It was the nicest one in town, Rupert had insisted.
That wasn’t saying much.
The vans stopped. Engines cut. Doors slid open.
Before anyone could grab their bags, Andi’s phone buzzed in her hand.
She glanced down.
Her pulse kicked as she answered. “Pam?”
There was a breath on the other end—sharp, unsteady—and then a sound that wasn’t quite a laugh or a sob. “They found her.”
Andi’s heart slammed hard against her ribs. “Found who?”
“Gina.” Pam’s voice cracked. “They found Gina.”
“What?” Andi needed to make sure she’d heard correctly.
“She’s alive,” Pam rushed on, as if afraid the words might disappear if she didn’t keep saying them. “She’s hurt and shaken, but she’s alive. The police just called me.”
Andi pressed a hand to her mouth, emotion surging so fast it made her dizzy. Around her, the others were unloading bags, talking—normal sounds that suddenly felt impossibly far away.
“Thank God,” Andi whispered.
“I don’t understand all the details yet. The police said she walked out of the woods. But she’s alive. That’s all I care about.”
Tears burned at Andi’s eyes as relief crashed through her, fierce and overwhelming.
“Listen, another woman is missing,” Andi said, already turning back toward the vans. “What are the chances we could talk to Gina? It would have to be through video call.”
A pause stretched. Then, “She’s at the hospital being checked out right now. But I have my computer with me. Maybe I can steal her for a few minutes.”
“That would be amazing. Maybe she knows something that will help us find this other woman.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Pam exhaled, the sound heavy with everything she’d been holding back. “Thank you. For not giving up.”
“I’m not sure how much we did, but I’m so glad she’s okay.”
“I’m going to go talk to her now. I’ll see if she’s up for a chat and let you know.”
Andi ended the call and looked up.
Everyone paused, waiting to hear the update.
“They found Gina,” Andi said. “She’s alive.”
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Then hope rushed in—bright, electric, undeniable.
For the first time since this had begun, Andi let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—they were finally ahead of whoever had tried so hard to stay invisible.
Twenty minutes later, Duke stood near the window of Andi’s hotel room while the FaceTime call connected.
