Page 102 of Absolution

I shake my head. “No. She just said it was in Echo Reach. That’s all I know.”

“Can you find out?” he asks, quieter now.

“I’ll try.”

I don’t wait for more. I disappear into the bedroom and shut the door behind me. The moment the door clicks, my composure crumbles.

Hands shaking, I sit down on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone. Who do I even call? I already tried Charlie. But maybe… maybe Marco would know.

I haven’t spoken to him in nearly a decade. Not since he and Charlie split their business. But I still have his number buried in my contacts.

I hit dial.

He answers on the second ring. “Hello?”

“Marco? Hey, it’s…it’s Kyle. Kyle Greyson.”

There’s a long pause. “Uh. Wow. Okay. Hi?”

“Yeah. Sorry. This is really out of the blue.” I rub my eyes. “Listen, I know it’s been years, but I need your help. It’s about Charlie.”

Another pause. “What kind of help?”

“Do you… do you know the address of his cabin? The one in Echo Reach?”

“He has a cabin?” Marco asks, confusion creeping in. “First I’ve heard of it.”

“Shit,” I mutter. I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Okay. Anyone else who might know?”

“Well,” Marco says slowly, “his ex-wife might. Monica. She handled most of their financials. I’ve still got her number.”

“Can you send it to me?”

“Yeah. Hold on.”

A second later, a text pops up. ‘Monica Pine - Charlie’s Ex.’

I don’t think. I just call.

She answers, cautious. “Hello?”

“Hi. Monica? Sorry for calling out of nowhere. My name is Kyle Greyson. I… I’m calling because it’s about Charlie. And someone he’s with. My ex-wife.”

There’s a long pause. “Okay…?”

“They went to his cabin near Echo Reach and I… there’s flooding there now. And I can’t reach them. Please. I just need the address.”

She exhales. “I’ve never been there, but I think the address was in the divorce settlement. Hang on.”

I wait, every second feeling like it’s choking me.

A minute passes. Then another.

Finally, my phone buzzes.

Monica Pine:Found it. Hope you get her back.

I stare at the screen for a second longer, not breathing.

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