Page 196 of The Darkest Chase

Finally.

I’m finally going to get to see blue sky again, instead of the endless dark clouds of purgatory, my home since Jet died.

As I stand up with one last tug to check the fit of my gear, my phone goes off from inside the vest pocket.

Fuck.

I almost ignore it.

I don’t have time for anything now but the mission, and it’s annoying as hell to fish my phone out in this bulky mess. There’s no ignoring that hot prick of warning, though.

Something that says anyone calling me this late shouldn’t be ignored.

Everyone stops, eyes on me, as I pluck my phone out and look at the screen.

Unknown number?

What the hell? If this is some clown calling to ask if I’m happy with my long-distance carrier, I’ll bite their goddamned face off.

“Hello?” I answer the call.

“Officer Micah Ainsley?” It’s an unfamiliar male voice. Breathless, urgent. A slight New England accent. Probably around my age, but I have no idea who the fuck this is, calling me by name. “You have to hurry. He took her.”

If I had ears like Rolf, they’d be standing up like spears.

“…who is this? Who fucking took who?”

“Please, I can’t,” he answers quickly. He’s whispering, I realize. “I couldn’t even call 9-1-1—you know they pay the phone bills. But he took Miss Grey. He knows, Officer Ainsley. He knows she took the camera.”

Shit, shit.

It all clicks together instantly like a gruesome puzzle.

It’s him.

The valet Talia told me about.

Joseph Peters.

And Xavier found out Talia took the camera, and he took her.

I’ll fucking kill him.

He already took my brother, and now he’s taking the woman I love?

“Where?” I demand. “Where has he gone? Is she hurt?”

“I don’t believe she’s injured,” Peters answers swiftly. “She seems to have passed out from fright. He didn’t tell me where he was going, no. He has me drive him locally, but when he goes on his endeavors, out of town, he never takes me along.”

“No point creating a witness,” I mutter grimly. “What direction did he go? Dammit, give me something.”

“North,” Peters hisses. “I’m sorry—someone’s coming, if anyone overhears—”

“You’ll disappear next.”

“Or end up like Cora.” There’s grief in his whisper. “Please, Officer Ainsley. Please, hurry.”

He hangs up before I can thank him.

---