When I turn around, someone steps out of the shadows. For a second, I don’t think anything about it. It must be one of the backstage hands or extras. Good, they were at least keeping a watch over it.
“Do you have the door open? Because we really should have it closed at night. It’s a breach in protocol for the theater,” I say in a nice tone, but firm. “It’s a security risk.”
The shadow comes closer and grows taller. It grabs my arm and jerks me toward it.
“What?” I stumble forward into what feels like a brick wall of a person.
“Hey!” Chase yells and moves forward.
The shadow shoves me away from Chase. Before I can catch myself, I fall to the ground. Something hits the side of my head, and blackness engulfs me.
CHAPTER 43
Hawk
I goto the exterior doors to let Damon and Cam in. Because we’re the only ones in the building, it’s locked up.
“You didn’t tell her we caught an earlier flight?” Cam asks. He strides in and looks down the empty hallway like I’m hiding Annie behind my back.
“And ruin the surprise?” I run a hand over my hair. “Honestly, she’s a hot mess today, and I didn’t want her watching the clock, knowing you guys would be here. But we’re on break now.”
“Did she text Mia?” Damon asks.
I nod. “She’s worried she lost her best friend. And also worried her best friend was fucking with her life, since we haven’t been able to clear Mia.”
Cam leads the way to the theater room. “How’s the play going?”
“Good. Everyone’s doing well.” When I open the doors, I’m surprised Annie isn’t where I left her. She was ready to do notes just like she always does, but maybe she had to use the bathroom.
Damon looks around like Annie might be hiding from him. “Bathroom?”
“Maybe?” I really didn’t expect her to disappear in the few minutes it took to go get the guys.
Keira walks in, looking at her tablet.
“Hey, did you see Annie?” I ask.
Keira looks up at me and then at the others. “Hey, guys. What?”
She’s as bad as Annie sometimes. “Annie. Was she wherever you were?”
“I don’t think so, but I was trying to figure out what the lighting tech is trying to do for the soliloquy. She probably could have walked right past me, honestly.” Keira makes her way to the table. “She’ll be back when the time is up.”
Damon turns and heads out into the hallway.
“Where are you going?” I ask, following him.
“Checking the bathroom.”
“Seriously?” I shake my head. “She’s fine. If you’re worried, check your phone.”
He stops and pulls out his phone and brings up the app that tracks Annie’s phone. It doesn’t give an exact location, but it shows her phone is in this wing of the building.
“We’re the only ones here. The other play was scheduled for earlier in the day, so everyone could use the larger black box theater. You don’t have to hunt her down in the bathroom.”
“Fine.” Damon walks back into the theater room and calls her phone.
“She’s not going to answer in the bathroom.” Cam rolls his eyes.
