Page 90 of Burned in Stone
Stone hits speaker. “Yeah?”
“Mr. Armstrong.” The voice is smooth, cultured, unfamiliar. “I believe you’re looking for someone.”
Stone goes rigid. “Where is she?”
“Safe. For now.”
“You fucking?—”
“I’d be very careful with your next words, Mr. Armstrong. Your daughter’s ability to dance again depends on your cooperation.”
Stone’s jaw works. When he speaks, his voice is ice. “What do you want?”
“Simple. All evidence related to our recent... misunderstandings. Security footage, documents, anything you might have shared with law enforcement. Witnesses need to recant. You have twenty-four hours.”
“I want proof she’s OK or you get nothing.”
Shuffling, then Emma’s voice, scared but brave. “Dad?”
“Emma! Baby girl, are you hurt?”
“I’m OK. They grabbed me at the airport. I’m?—”
Suddenly—shouting. Male voices, angry and panicked. Then the crack of gunfire.
Pop. Pop!
“Emma!” Stone roars.
She screams—high and terrified—before the line goes dead.
“EMMA!” Stone’s hitting redial but nothing happens. He tries again. Again. His hands shake so badly he almost drops the phone.
The room erupts. Tank’s heading for the door. Duck’s shouting orders. Axel’s on his phone, probably calling his father. Everyone’s moving at once except Stone, frozen, staring at his phone like it might bring his daughter back.
“Boss.” Hawk grabs Stone’s shoulders. “We’re going to get her back.”
“They shot her.” Stone’s voice cracks. “My baby—they shot?—”
His phone rings.
Everyone stops.
Stone answers before it finishes ringing. “Emma?”
“It’s Bones.” His voice is steady with an edge. “I’ve got her.”
Stone’s legs give out. He catches himself on the table. “What?”
“She’s safe. Shaken, but safe.”
“How—”
“I’ll explain when we get there. But Stone? She’s OK. I promise.”
Stone drops the phone, both hands braced on the table, head hanging. His whole body shakes.
“What about Summit?” Hawk asks, grabbing the phone.
