Page 136 of X Marks the Stalker
“Hang on.” I fumble with my earpiece, digging it from my jacket pocket. My fingers won’t cooperate. The tiny device almost drops into my coffee. I duck my head, pretending to look at the menu.
Across the table, Darius reaches into his suit jacket like he’s retrieving a business card, producing his own earpiece with infuriating calm. Not a single worry line creases his forehead while my whole world hangs in the balance.
I wedge the device into my ear, the connection crackling to life. Every second stretches into eternity. All I can think is, Xander might already be in handcuffs. Or worse.
“—can’t believe this shit,” Lazlo’s voice cuts in mid-sentence, words tight with adrenaline. “Building’s crawling with cops now.”
Darius taps his earpiece. “Status update on the panic room.”
“That’s what I was trying to tell you,” Lazlo hisses, voicedropping. “Security manager just walked in. The one with the override codes.”
My stomach plummets. “How long until they get in?”
“Fifteen minutes, max,” Lazlo replies. “They’re assembling some kind of response team before they breach. Manager’s talking to the police captain now. Shit, hold on.”
The comms go silent. I glance at Darius, whose composed expression now sports the slightest furrow between his brows.
Lazlo’s breath rushes through the earpiece as he returns. “They’re gathering outside the penthouse door. Got thermal imaging equipment. Trying to see if anyone’s inside before they go in.”
“Will they be able to detect Xander?” My voice barely clears a whisper.
“Yes.”
I reach for my coffee cup, desperate for something to occupy my hands. “Can you get a message to him?”
Lazlo’s frustrated sigh crackles through the earpiece. “I tried. No response.”
I try Xander’s number anyway, watching the spinning wheel as my phone struggles to connect. The call fails before it even rings. I try again. Same result.
“What if something’s wrong?” The question escapes before I can trap it. “What if he’s hurt? What if they’ve already?—”
“Ms. Novak,” Darius interrupts, voice low but firm. “Perhaps you’d like another coffee?”
I stare at him blankly until I catch the slight head tilt toward the couple at the next table, who’ve begun glancing our way with curious expressions. I force a smile.
“Sorry. I just get carried away with these scenarios sometimes.” I lift my half-empty cup with shaky fingers and take a deliberate sip of the cold coffee. “You’re right. I need a refill.”
Darius waits until the couple returns to their own conversation before leaning forward. “There’s nothing we can do right now except wait it out.”
“I hate this,” I admit. “I hate not knowing.”
Lazlo’s voice cuts through again. “Guys, they’re starting the override sequence. Whatever’s going to happen, we’ll know in about two minutes.”
My nails dig half-moons into my palms as I listen to Lazlo’s ragged breathing through the earpiece.
“They’re inputting the final override code,” he whispers. “Ten seconds.”
I close my eyes, as if that might somehow help Xander, wherever he is in that panic room. The restaurant hums with oblivious morning chatter around us.
“They’re in.” Lazlo’s voice drops even lower. “Five officers, weapons drawn. Security manager standing back.”
Darius lifts his espresso to his lips, face betraying nothing. Under the table, his leg presses against mine—the slightest pressure, a silent reminder to keep my expression neutral.
“They’ve found Blackwell.”
My eyes dart to Darius, whose lips tighten almost imperceptibly.
“They’re calling for forensics,” Lazlo continues. “Captain’s on his radio... They’re implementing a full building lockdown. Nobody in or out.”
