Page 40 of Pack Baby for the Silver Foxes

Mary pulled the sheet higher. “Is that business?”

“No,” I said.

Lincoln’s gaze met mine over the top of her head.

The phone stopped, then started again.

Damien rarely called me twice unless something was wrong or he wanted money and pretended he wanted to talk to me was the way to get it.

I reached for the phone.

Mary’s fingers tightened in the sheet.

“You don’t have to stay quiet,” I told her.

“I wasn’t planning a musical number. I’m still recovering and my throat is tender. But if you want privacy, I’ll leave.”

“This is your room.”

That silenced her.

Not for long, probably. Mary seemed opposed to silence, but the words landed. Her eyes softened in a way she tried to hide by looking down at the sheet.

I answered before the call could drop again. “Damien.”

“Dad?”

His voice was wrong. He sounded frightened.

I sat up straighter. Lincoln did the same. “What happened?”

“I can’t find her.”

My attention narrowed at once. “Find who?”

“My girlfriend.”

The sheet stopped moving under Mary’s fingers.

“When did you last see her?” I asked.

“A couple of days ago. On campus. We had a fight.”

“Two days,” I repeated.

“I thought she was ignoring me. I thought she’d cool off and answer my calls.”

Mary’s throat moved.

I kept my voice even. “How bad was the fight?”

“It was just a fight, and she overreacted.”

“Damien. What did you do?”

He sighed. “I said something stupid.”

“That narrows nothing.” I turned and looked at Lincoln and shook my head.