“Probably more by now,” Adrian said.
“And Ethan?”
“Likely saw it the same way everyone else did.”
It made sense.
That should have reassured me.
It didn’t.
Because Ethan had not called me.
He had not texted me.
He had called airport staff.
Twice.
And asked whether I was leaving with Adrian Prescott.
“Why wouldn’t he call me?” I murmured.
My phone had been in airplane mode.
I switched it back on.
Messages flooded the screen.
Most were from people I barely spoke to anymore.
College friends.
A former coworker.
My aunt in Oklahoma.
IS THAT YOU???
Elena call me.
Girl what is happening???
And then Ethan’s messages appeared.
Six of them.
The first had arrived forty minutes earlier.
Where is Lily?
Then:
Call me immediately.
Then:
I know you’re in Houston.
Then:
We need to talk before you do something you’ll regret.
Then:
Elena, please. This is important.
And finally:
Do not go to Marisol’s house.
I stopped breathing.
Adrian noticed.
“What?”
I showed him.
His eyes moved quickly down the screen.
“Who is Marisol?”
“My cousin.”
“The one you’re staying with?”
“Yes.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Does Mr. Walker know her address?”
“He’s never been there.”
“But could he find it?”
“Probably.”
Adrian looked at me.
“Call your cousin.”
My hands were trembling.
I pressed Marisol’s name.
She answered on the second ring.
“Elena?”
Her voice came through beneath loud kitchen noises.
Relief nearly buckled my knees.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m making enchiladas. Why are you whispering like you’ve robbed a bank?”
“Is anyone there?”
A pause.
“My husband is working late and Mateo is doing homework. Why?”
“Has Ethan contacted you?”
“No.”
“Has anyone?”
“No. Elena, you’re scaring me.”
I closed my eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“Where are you?”
“At the airport.”
“Well, come here. I changed the sheets and everything.”
My throat tightened.
Marisol and I had not been close growing up.
We exchanged Christmas messages and occasional birthday wishes.
Yet when I called her four days earlier and asked whether Lily and I could stay with her, she hadn’t hesitated.
Now the idea of bringing whatever this was to her front door made me feel sick.
“I might not come tonight.”
“Why not?”
I glanced at Adrian.
He stepped away deliberately, giving me privacy.
“I’ll explain,” I said. “I just need to figure something out.”
