Page 126 of The Silent Note

My adrenaline is pumping and it feels like my heart is about to burst. The thought that I came this far, married Zane, kidnapped an old woman, did all these crazy things for a pipe dream is enough to send chills down my spine.

“Don’t listen to him, Grey.”

“I don’t care what you do or say,” I mutter aloud, inspecting the key again. “There has to be a reason he left this for us to find and I’ll never give up until I know why.”

Zane sighs heavily as ifI’mthe one who has issues, but at least he stops talking about ‘pauses’ and ‘breaks’.

Sloane peers over my shoulder.

“Any ideas?” I ask her.

“Maybe it’s a key to a storage locker outside of the main branch? They have those storage containerrentals at train stations, right? Like a vending machine but for storage?”

“I think you’re on to something,” I mutter.

“Of course. It’s me.”Sloane grins, her eyes glinting.

“But that doesn’t narrow it down? Where would the storage container be? And would it still be occupied after all these years?”

“I bet it’s somewhere close to his home.”

“No, not his home. Too obvious.”

“The gym?”

“No.”

“Okay, missy. Don’t just shoot down everything I say. I don’t see you coming up with any ideas.”

“Grey?” A voice calls from what feels like a faraway place.

“Maybe his favorite bar? Somewhere he went a lot?”

I rub my temple. “Somewhere he went a lot, but it can’t be that obvious.”

“Grey?” A hand touches my shoulder.

I brush Zane off, annoyed at the interruption. “Just give us a minute. We’re thinking!”

“We?” Zane says.

I freeze and stammer out. “I mean ‘I’.I’mthinking.”

But it’s too late.

Brows lifting in concern, Zane lets out another heavy sigh. “Who’s in the room with us right now, sweetheart?”

“Did he just call you sweetheart? Aw!”

My eyes dart to the side where Sloane is looking back at me with a besotted face.

“Is it over here?” Zane walks toward my best friend.

“I’m not an it,”Sloane huffs.“Tell him I’m not an it, Grey.”

I sit down at the table and place a hand to my forehead. “I think I have a headache. Can you check if the front desk has anything for a fever?”

“Don’t quit your day job. Acting is not your calling,”Sloane says sarcastically.

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