Page 154 of Symphony for Lies

Tiana’s frustrated sigh dragged me out of my thoughts. “Fine. We’ll drop it. You two should go.”

Stacy stomped toward the door, and Spencer followed.

I cast one last glance over my shoulder at the fridge.Then at Layla and Tiana.

“I swear, I’ll bring Amelia home.”

Tears welled in their eyes. They nodded, too choked up to speak.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked out, bitterness curling inside me like poison.

I climbed into my car, gripping the wheel so tightly my hands shook.

Fear slithered up my spine, coiling around my ribs and squeezing my lungs like a vice.

It was suffocating.

Sickening.

I had held Amelia in my arms just that morning. She was gone.

Clack.

The passenger door swung open, and Spencer slid into the seat beside me. “I sent Stacy to Paws & Tails. She’s checking if that bird is from there.”

I barely heard him. My grip on the wheel tightened.

“And what are we doing?”

“We drive.” His voice was grim. “And we think. What the hell does the labyrinth mean?”

I sucked in a slow, sharp breath.

We had to be smarter.

I pressed my foot to the gas.

“So, we know Amelia has personally received a message before.” Spencer tried to sound composed as I drove aimlessly through the streets. I had no plan, no direction, just the desperate need to keep moving. Sitting still felt like suffocating, like waiting for something unspeakable to happen.

Had Amelia felt the same when I was taken? Had she felt the same lost, helpless dread when she stepped into that dark school basement to save me?

My nails bit into my flesh.

No, Amelia wasn’t fragile. She was strong and smart. She would find a way to stay alive. She had to… just had to hold on long enough for me to locate her.

“Mr.Cole?” Spencer’s voice cut in louder.

I blinked, snapping back to reality.

“You need to focus.”

“I’m trying.”

He sighed, rubbing his temple. “Her phone can’t be traced; it must be turned off. That means we only have what little information we’re left with. Something must have stood out in her notes.”

This was all his damn fault.

If he hadn’t dragged her into solving the damn puzzle, she wouldn’t be in danger. I know blaming him was irrational, but I didn’t care. He sat there, too fucking calm like he hadn’t realized that his stupid case had led to Amelia vanishing.

---