Page 62 of Not that Impressed
“You got it.” Ellie grins down at the phone.
“I’ll see if I can make something out of their guest list,” he says, sounding distracted. “I’ll call back if I find anything.”
We thank him again and hang up. Ellie faces me. “Well, what should we do? Start knocking doors?”
I give my head a slight shake, trying to think. “They have to come downstairs sometime, right? To eat or … something. We’ll stay here and … wait them out.”
“Okay.” Her expression is anxious. She checks out the building above us, still biting her lip. I take her in my arms and give in to the distraction for a moment, dropping a quick kiss on her lips. When I let her go, she gazes up at me, a little bewildered.
“First things first,” I say. “You tell our driver he can take off and then call your family to update them. I’m going to book us a room so they can’t kick us out.”
Ellie grips my arms. “She’s here, Will, right? We found her.”
“We found her,” I promise. We’ve come too far to consider scenarios where Libby’s not with Hollis anymore.
I just hope I don’t end up breaking this promise.
CHAPTER 27
ELLIE
We have to split up. The hotel is too big, with too many entrances and ways to get around and too many chances we’ll miss Hollis or Libby if they leave. I’ve tried her phone a few more times, and it’s still off.
I’ve donned a pair of big sunglasses, and I bought a wide-brimmed hat at one of the gift shops on the hotel property. Libby may spot me, but I’m hoping this will buy me the time to spot them first.
Unease wiggles in my stomach. Why did she stop answering our calls and texts? Because we were all overreacting, according to her? Wouldn’t she want to make sure Mom and Dad knew she was fine and that this trip isn’t a big deal?
I push my worries away, but it’s harder when Will’s not by my side anymore. He’s known all the right things to say the last twenty-four hours to keep me calm and not too worried about Libby. I can’t believe he’s here, sacrificing so much for me when everything between us is new. And yet, it feels like our friendship, and whatever more there is to come, is as solid as though we’ve been together for years.
I wander up the beach, scanning everyone around me buttrying not to look too suspicious. I text Will while I walk, since that will make me seem more normal.
Ellie
Heard anything from Caleb?
Will
Sorry. Nothing new.
Ugh. “Where are you, Libby?” I whisper. I choose a sidewalk that comes off the beach and head toward some guest rooms. Maybe I can walk the halls and see something. I’ve been up and down the beach twice now without spotting Libby or Grayson. The evening is humid but not too hot after the rainstorm. Would they still be inside? It is cloudy. Maybe they’re afraid it might rain again.
I keep scanning all around me as I walk toward the building full of rooms where Caleb said Grayson’s phone was located. As of an hour ago his phone was in that building. I have to hold on to that. Libby is close, and we’re going to find her.
I open my text messages with Janelle in case I missed any updates on her end in the last five minutes since I messaged her. There’s nothing new, just Dad’s ETA in Cancun (still over an hour out) and our frustration that the FBI doesn’t seem to work as quickly as the TV shows we’ve watched portray. At least the favors Dad has called in means the Mexican authorities are ready to arrest Grayson as soon as we find them.
My phone buzzes in my hand, making me jump. It’s a call from Janelle. It doesn’t surprise me she’s seeking out updates too. I’m sure it’s torture to be at home and not know what’s going on here minute by minute.
“Hey, Janelle, we haven’t?—”
“I know what name they’re booked under,” Janelle interrupts me. “Or at least I have a really good guess.”
“What?” I cry and then soften my voice. I don’t want to draw attention to myself. “How?”
“Libby’s friend, Kat, saw your post and sent me a text. She said Libby sent her a picture of her and Grayson late last night, and she’d written ‘Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliams’ with a bunch of winking emojis. I sent it to you.”
I cover my mouth to keep quiet the exclamation of excitement. “I’ll call you back soon,” I promise. “Make sure you tell Kat thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
“Find Libby. Please.”
