The burner phone buzzes in my briefcase, and one bit of the tension pressing down on my shoulders eases slightly.
Ford’s okay. Just…being reckless. I had to make some calls to the Turkish Embassy to vouch for them. He’ll head into Turkmenistan tomorrow. Everything okay there?
I can’t imagine what Ford’s going through. Not knowing where his old girlfriend is, scared she’s being abused…tortured. My thoughts turn to Dax, and what he went through, and suddenly, I understand why he was so insistent he come with me tonight. Because he knows what it’s like.
I’m about to reply when my mom emails me back.
Congratulations, sweetheart! I am so proud of you. I want to meet your special man. But are you sure you can come tomorrow? The man from your office who brought me flowers today said you might be too busy to see me for a few more days.
The man from my office? Why would anyone from my office send my mother flowers? Most of them…oh my God.
Mom, what did he look like?
I don’t wait for her to answer before I lunge for my file cabinet, grab my tablet and laptop, and throw both into my briefcase. They know where my mother is, and if they can get to her…
Racing out of my office, I almost run right into Barry, but manage to side-step him just in time.
“Evianna? Where are you going? We’re all ordering lobster rolls from the Chop House and Noah went out to grab some Champagne.”
“Minor emergency at the house. Plumbing. I won’t be long, but if I don’t run home, the entire basement is going to be a total loss. Start without me!” I don’t know where I pull that excuse from, but it seems to work, because he doesn’t follow me or protest.
In the elevator, I call Dax. “They know where my mom is,” I blurt out before he can even say hello. “I can’t…I have to—”
“Evianna, stop and listen to me. You are not to leave your office alone. Do you understand?”
“Please,” I beg as the elevator doors open and I stumble into the lobby. “I can’t just do nothing.”
“Not suggesting that. I can be there in under ten minutes. Where are you right now?” Despite the strain in his voice, just talking to him helps calm me, and I force myself to take a deep breath.
“Lobby.”
“Wait there. Call the care facility and tell them you’re coming. They’re not to let anyone in to see your mother until you get there, and give them a password. I’m walking out of my office right now, and I’ll text Clive, then call Wren and figure out what we can do to keep your mother safe. Do you understand?”
Swiping at the tear racing down my cheek, I stammer, “Y-yes. Hurry.”
“I will, darlin’.”
Five minutes later, I hang up with Watertown Longterm Care and Comfort, and find an email from Mom.
He was tall with black hair. Looked kind of like that actor…Johnny Depp? Smelled like a chimney. You should tell him to quit smoking.
Oh, shit.
The tapping of Dax’s cane on the marble floors is the only thing keeping me sane, and I rush over to him, skidding to a halt a half second before I run right into him. But he senses me, or hears me, or something, because he wraps his arms around me. “Clive’s three minutes away, and Wren’s in my ear working on a solution for your mom right now.”
“It’s…Louie,” I manage. “Mom described him.”
Dax stiffens. “Wren? Did you catch that?” I can’t hear her response, but she must have said yes, because he quickly continues, “I’ll have Clive make the call as soon as he gets here. Keep working your magic. Call me back when you have something.”
A horn sounds from the street. “Clive,” I say, and Dax has me out the door and into the car in under a minute. It’ll be okay. It has to be. Otherwise, what should be the best day of my life could turn into the worst. I’m coming, Mom.
I just hope we’re fast enough.
Twenty minutes later, Clive slams on the brakes, the SUV screeches to a halt outside Watertown Longterm Care and Comfort, and I’m out of the car before Dax can even unfold his cane. “Evianna, wait,” he snaps as he struggles to navigate the uneven curb.
“Shit. I’m sorry,” I whisper as I take his arm and lead him inside.
He angles his head so his lips brush my ear. “You didn’t do anything wrong, darlin’. I just need you to stay close.”
