CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
MOLLY
I was sitting at my desk, grading papers when Elle rushed in. "I'm so sorry to do this, but Savannah's daycare just called. She's running a fever of one hundred and two. She won't stop crying. I need to pick her up and take her to the doctor’s."
I stood up from my desk and rushed around to grab Elle by the arms. My friend was disheveled, and I needed to calm her down before she drove off anywhere.
"Take a deep breath. I know it's scary, but I'm sure she'll be fine. I don't know why you're apologizing to me. Go get your baby. I'll tell Mrs. Rotcher you needed to leave."
Mrs. Rotcher was our school principal. She was stern but fair. She would completely understand Elle's need to leave.
"I already called her before I came to see you. I'm apologizing because I'm leaving you here without a ride home."
Oh that. I forgot Elle drove us in this morning, after I spent last night in her guest bedroom. I waved her off. "I'll call an Uber. It's no big deal. You worry about Savannah. Call me after you see the doctor and let me know how it goes."
"Okay." Elle closed her eyes and exhaled. "I called Rhett. They are wrapping things up and should be getting on the plane in the next few hours. You have the house code, so you can get in if I'm not back."
Parker had said as much when he texted a few minutes before Elle came running into the room.
"Elle, I'm fine. Seriously stop worrying about me and go get your baby girl. I'll talk to you later."
"Right, right." She didn't look nearly as composed as I wanted her to. "Everything's going to be fine. It's just the first time Savannah's been sick, and I'm freaking out a little."
"Any good mother would, now move your ass before I'm forced to drag you to your car."
"Right. I'm going." It took my friend another two seconds before she got a move on. Then she was out the door in a flash.
The last two classes of the day went by at a snail's pace. Two other teachers covered Elle's classes during their prep periods, but I had to help them since Elle ran out without leaving a plan in place.
By the time the final bell rang, I was more than ready to leave for the day. I was almost to the front door when I remembered I needed to get an Uber to Elle's.
"This day is never ending," I groaned loudly to no one in particular.
I pulled up the app, but the closest one was twenty minutes away. I contemplated going back to my classroom to work but decided against it. I didn't have the brainpower for any more work. I decided to walk the halls instead.
I wore flats today, so at least my feet weren't killing me. A walk would be good for me since I rarely made it to the gym anymore to use the treadmill. I was in the fifth-grade wing of the building when a noise caught my attention. It sounded like someone was arguing.
Curiosity got the better of me, and as quietly as I could, I followed the voice. I thought I recognized it as Ben, but I couldn't be sure.
Then suddenly everything went silent. The voice I thought I heard just moments before was no more. I began to wonder if I ever heard it at all.
My phone vibrating in my hand made me gasp. Obviously being in the school after the students left put me on edge. I glanced down to see that my ride was two minutes away. I turned on my heel to walk back to the front of the building, but something hard slammed into the back of my head.
I stumbled forward and watched in horror as the floor got closer and closer in my line of vision. Instinct had my hands flying out in front of me to break my fall, but it didn't stop my head from bouncing off the hard floor.
Darkness did its best to try and drag me under, but I fought it.
"Help." The short word fell from my lips as a pair of sneakers came into my foggy line of sight. My brain demanded that my arm reach out for assistance, but I never saw the limb. Confusion plagued my mind right before the darkness started to take over.
Sorry,Parker.
That was my last thought as my mind went completely dark.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
PARKER
"Tell me what you know?" I demanded from Caden as I stepped foot off the plane and moved at a fast clip toward the waiting SUV.
