“What list?” I ask.
Even though I heard him fine the first time.
Ghost doesn’t soften it.
“Asset list.”
My hand tightens around the phone.
“Not victim?”
“No.”
The word lands like a round through the ribs.
I turn toward the café window.
The van is still there, blocking the back.
“Say it clean,” I order.
Ghost exhales once. “Brianna Hardy is listed as a recruiter. Lure girl. Works with Landon. Targets women who are broke, isolated, running from something, or looking for cash. Gets them to parties. Gets them comfortable. Then Landon’s people move them.”
My blood goes cold.
Talia.
Her arms around that girl.
Her face when she saw her.
Her voice in the motel room, breaking over a sister who was never missing.
I move.
Fast.
The white van leaves.
“Shadow?” Ghost snaps.
“Trap.”
I yank the café door open.
The bell screams overhead.
My eyes go straight to the back booth.
Empty.
For one second, the world narrows down to that.
Empty booth.
Empty seat.
No Talia.
