i

d, but the do

, trying aga

changed

personally betrayed him. Lucy had never done this before. She always left the door unlo

thread. Empty. No explanation. No heads-up. No

hat-paid half her rent, kept her close, kept

like being

cked deep in his contacts. A government con

ll was

Three days ago," the voice

ened around his p

could just run

all, jaw clenched, mind racing. No one

longer before turning away,

g. Which meant it was

and, lips pressed into a tight line. He made another

ontacted before she vanished,"

er, the rep

e nu

e. A client line. Receptio

cious men. No hotel check-ins

something darker. Either she wasn't talking to an

She was scared of confron

helping

her sister, maybe someone at her job? Someon

than any man she could've run off with. S

llway again, mi

nesburg. He was

nything. Rewriting the story of wh

't let th

pilot withou

eady. I'm flyi

as yet, but he'd be damned

sburg runway just before midnight. Mike didn't wait

aling as the whee

ck on Lucy Jacobs. I n

but efficient. "She's at her paren

ion. At least she wasn't hiding in so

ief did

o

t without a single word. No message. No ca

teeth, pressing

my roof soon eno

ed, but Mike's mind was already

isturb her pa

itter pill, but

he city below contrasting sharply with the storm inside his mind. He t

he luxury around him

wasn't

silence, her sudden disappearance, t

s watch. Hour

ntly on the armrest. He tried to focus on the city lights, the ste

felt lik

t pale light of morning

-

led up in front of a modest hous

The moment was heavy-no sudden confrontations tonight.

hand and ran

rred from sleep, the soun

ned it