Lily nodded slowly, thinking as she pulled out her phone, pressing her mom’s name. It rang twice before she answered.
“Hey sweetie, how’s Wren’s birthday?—”
Lily cut her off, speaking quickly. “Mom—Mommy, I’m in trouble—Wren’s in trouble—we’re in trouble.” She winced as the officer wrapped her hand.
Her mom’s tone shifted in an instant. “Lily, what’s wrong? What happened?”
“We’re getting taken to the police station downtown. Wren’s in trouble. I told her to stay quiet until you get there, but she doesn’t listen, and I’m scared.”
“Okay. I’m on my way, Lily. Don’t say anything or sign anything until I get there. It’s going to be okay, baby.” Her mom’s voice was soothing, exactly what she needed to hear right then as she gulped down air, trying not to panic more than she already was. How had the night gone so wrong?
SEVENTEEN
BETH
APRIL
Beth set down her paintbrush and sat back, reviewing her work in progress. Dim lighting filled the small studio space tucked inside the Emerald City Art Gallery. A glance at her watch told her she had been working for the last five hours without taking a break. God bless that hyperfixation.
She had worked in the gallery studio a handful of times since getting over her painter’s block, but still, she found herself avoiding it. It reminded her too much of Jamie—it was, after all, where they had met. The rush of memories that came flooding back the first time she set foot in her office again had caught her unprepared, but each time since then, it had gotten easier to keep moving forward.
Her plan for the afternoon had been to swing by and drop off a coffee for Sean while running errands in the neighborhood. But that stop had turned into a conversation, which turned into him asking her to grab a few things from her office, which had turned into her getting sucked into a painting she had left unfinished the year before. Beth really should have seen it coming; Sean had the uncanny ability of getting her to do exactly what he wanted, but in a way that made it feel like it was her idea all along.
Beth’s phone vibrated where it sat on the edge of the easel. She smirked, looking down at the screen, where she saw a text from Sean.
Sean 10:15 PM
Still at the gallery? Must be feeling pretty inspired.
Beth 10:16 PM
Are you spying on me via the security cameras? I feel like you set this up. You’re always up to something. But yes. Still here, leaving soon. Don’t worry. I’ll lock up.
Sean 10:17 PM
Not spying, just happy to see you back in your element and of course making me money ;p
Beth rolled her eyes, reaching for the dirty paint brushes she had used over the course of the evening, fully intending to take them to the utility closet to clean up, until she got distracted by her phone ringing. She answered it, preparing herself for more of Sean’s teasing.
“Don’t worry, your gallery is in good hands. I know how to set the security—” She was cut off by Sarah’s voice.
Sarah’s words were clear and quick as she spoke briskly in that no-nonsense, problem-solver way that came so naturally to her. “Beth, it’s me. Lily and Wren are in trouble and are being transported to the East Precinct on Capitol Hill. I called Nell, and we’re on our way.”
Police station? Lily? Nell? Her mind was spinning as she tried to catch up. “Sar, what are you talking about? What’s going on?”
“I’m not entirely sure. Lily called me five minutes ago, saying Wren is in trouble. I told her not to say anything or sign anything until I get there.”
Beth’s pulse quickened, her brain working overtime trying to wrap her mind around what Sarah was saying. Lily wasn’t the type of kid who got in trouble—at least not this kind of trouble. She had so many questions, but the one her brain asked first wasn’t one she intended to say out loud. “You called Nell before you called me?”
“What?”
Beth’s words were colder than she wanted them to be, but her tone was an honest reflection of how she was feeling, which was hurt. “Nell. You called her before you called me about something concerningourdaughter.”
Beth knew Sarah well enough to recognize her annoyance. “Really? Right now? This is what you want to talk about right now? I just told you our daughter is on her way to a police station, and you want to talk about why I called Nell?”
Beth’s stomach clenched with the realization that Sarah might have a point. She took a steadying breath before responding. “You said the girls are on their way to the Capitol Hill police station? I can be there in ten minutes. I’m at the gallery.”
A quiet filled the space on the line between them for a moment before Sarah spoke again. “I called Nell for Wren. She’s in town, and she knows the ins and outs of the league’s policies. I’m trying to make sure Wren has people in her corner while we figure out what’s going on.”
