Then it hit her. Collin had Paige's phone which meant he must have done something to her.
A band tightened around her chest. So tight she could hardly breathe. Riley's hand shook so badly she nearly dropped the phone. A lump filled her throat as she struggled to draw air into her lungs.
"You—" She let loose a swear word she'd only ever used one other time in her life. The night Collin Ainsworth attacked her. "What have you done to Paige? Where is she?"
At her initial outburst, Daniel spun around to face her. He now stared wide-eyed, and slack jawed, getting a front row seat to Riley's "garbage" but she didn't care. She had to know where Paige was. Had Collin hurt her?
"Did you really think I wouldn't figure out where you were, darling?"
"Where is Paige?" Riley screamed into the phone. "If you've hurt her, I'll swear I'll ki?—"
Deep, mocking laughter cut off Riley's threat. "Enjoy playing cowgirl on that little ranch of yours. What was it called? The Double Diamond? Don't worry, I'll be waiting for you when you get back."
Riley gasped again and threw her phone on the ground as though it had burned her. She pressed her hands to her face.
He knows where I am. And he's done something—probably something unspeakable—to Paige.
"I never should have left her alone in Seattle." Riley paced away from Daniel who stared at her.
"Ri."
"I should have insisted she come home with me." She changed directions. "She could have gotten a sub for the last six weeks of school."
"Riley." Daniel stepped in front of her, forcing her to change directions again.
"I can't believe I just left her behind. And now, Collin has...done something to her." Her stomach churned and she feared she might be sick.
"Riley Jo Winters." Daniel's voice was loud and stern. "What in the blue blazes is going on?"
Riley stopped pacing and stared at Daniel. His face blurred when tears filled her eyes. She shook her head.
"What happened to Paige?"
Now the tears cascaded down her face. "I don't know."
A chill settled over Daniel,and a sense of dread made every beat of his heart hard and sluggish.
Had something bad happened to Paige? And who was that man on the phone? Daniel couldn't hear the words he'd said to Riley, but he'd heard enough to know it wasn't Paige on the other end. And Riley's ashen face and frantic movements told him she was either terrified or very worried. Maybe both.
He grabbed Riley's shoulders, and immediately, she tensed up, her eyes wide and full of panic. He released her just as fast but stayed standing in front of her.
"Where is Paige?"
"Sh-she's supposed to be staying with our n-neighbors."
"What neighbors?"
"Jen and Shaylee." Riley sidestepped him and began pacing again with her arms wrapped tightly around her body. "They live next door to us."
"Why would Paige stay with them?"
"Because I refused to leave her alone when I decided to come home. I was afraid he would hurt her." She swore under her breath then pressed one hand to her stomach and the other to her face. "And he has. Oh, why did I leave her? I should have known?—"
"Known what?" Daniel stepped in front of her again. "Riley, I can't make sense of what you're saying. Why do you think something has happened to Paige?"
"He has her phone. That means he's done something bad to her."
"Who?" Daniel's stomach sank. He hated the idea of something bad happening to one of Riley's cousins and his childhood friend.
