“I know, but you know how I am. I always assume the worst is going to happen.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” she said. “I’m really worried about Elsie.”
“Oh, honey,” I said and sat down beside her to pull her into a hug. “Maybe she’ll be found soon now that the police are involved.”
“I hope so,” she said quietly, followed by a yawn. “I think I’m going to take a nap. Will you wake me up if you hear anything?”
“Of course,” I promised.
“On that note, I’ll get out of your hair so you can get some sleep, too,” Ink said.
“I’m definitely up past my bedtime,” I said, yawning as I walked him to the door. I opened my mouth to thank him again for changing the course of my daughter’s life, but he turned and handed another piece of paper to me.
“My number is on top. The other one belongs to Phoenix. Call or text us if you need something.”
“Thanks,” I said and glanced at the paper. “But I don’t think the police have a reason to come back. There’s nothing for Ariel to tell them because she can’t remember anything.”
“Right,” he grinned and nodded toward the paper. “But that goes for anything, not just this.”
“Oh,” I said, glancing back at him.
His grin grew into a smile. “Take care, Presley.”
“Yeah, you, too.” I stood there long after he’d driven away, once again wondering if I’d ever see him again.
4
INK
It was no surprise when Phoenix called us into church later that afternoon. It was, however, a pain in the ass because I was tired as fuck. I’d only been asleep for three hours when I got the phone call.
“I need to ride with you,” I mumbled into the phone as soon as Dice answered.
“No dice,” Daphne said in the background. She’d recently started using the phrase every time she had a chance to say no to or for Dice.
“Dude, I can’t drive to the clubhouse. I’m too fucking tired.”
“Yeah, me too, man,” Dice rasped. “Walter and Buck are here. One of them can drive.”
“Sweet. When are we leaving?”
“Ten minutes.”
“Fuck,” I grumbled and jumped out of bed. “Later.”
Nine minutes later, I was running across to Dice’s house just like I did the day London was born—half-dressed, half-awake, and praying someone had coffee. “Please tell me someone has coffee,” I said as I fell into my seat.
“Right here,” Dice said and passed me a tumbler.
I brought it to my lips and paused. “Did you put ice cubes in this?”
“No,” Dice laughed. “But Daphne did.”
“If you ever fuck it up with her, I will hurt you daily,” I vowed before taking a large sip of coffee.
“You’ll have to get in line, sonny boy,” Walter said from the front seat. “Y’all ready to go?”
“I am,” Buck said. “I want to know what went down last night.”
