CHAPTER 1
SABLE
"Savannah!" I screamed into the phone even after it was dead. “'God no’what?"
The call ended before she could tell me. The terror in her voice… Her words echoed over over.
Sable. Oh god, oh god. No.
Heart in my throat, I pulled the device away from my ear and tapped on the screen.
My first call went to voicemail. So did the one after that.
Don't panic, I told myself.Panicking won't help her. I need to be calm, rational.
Fuck, how could Inotpanic? Was Savannah dead? I didn't want to think it. Wouldn't accept the possibility. Would absolutely not consider the possibility she was worse than dead.
Deep breaths.
Deep breaths.
I forced one in through my nose and out through my mouth. Then another.
Enough oxygen and control to let a sliver of rational thought wind its way back into my mind. I had to make a call to someone very specific.
I winced when I saw the time on my phone. Three in the morning. With shaking hands, I pressed on Forrest's number and put the phone to my ear.
Would he answer, or would he have his notifications on 'do not disturb?' He was a busy, influential man. He deserved to have boundaries around his personal time. If he didn't answer, I'd understand. What would I do then? I could… Or maybe… Perhaps…
I had no idea.
I bit my lip and waited.
The phone rang a couple of times before Forrest's sleepy voice came through the speaker.
"Sable?"
"I'm sorry to call so late," I started.
He must have heard the edge of panic, because he immediately sounded sharper. "I'm coming over. I'll be there in ten minutes."
"You don't have to—" But he already hung up. I thought about calling him back and telling him he didn't need to hurry over. I should. My fingers hovered over the screen, but his name remained unpressed. Finally, I curled my finger in to my palm and let the screen turn off.
The truth was, I wanted him there. If anyone could figure out what to do, it'd be him. I liked to think I was a competent, independent woman, but there was no handbook for this. No direct line to a police call centre for people who'd received concerning calls in the middle of the night. Chances were, they'd dismiss it out of hand. After all, I had no proof anything happened to her. She wasn't officially missing. Yet.
I tossed my phone on the couch and hurried into my bedroom to change. Not that I cared if Forrest saw me in my pajamas, but if we had to leave to hunt down Savannah, I neededto be ready. Pink Hello Kitty pajamas with a tear in the knee didn't say 'running out the door to help a friend.'
I pulled on black leggings and an oversized sweater before pushing my feet into a pair of sneakers. Bright pink ones that seemed frivolous under the circumstances, but they were comfortable. If I had to run, they'd allow me to run.
I was sweeping my hair up in a ponytail when a knock sounded on the door. I trotted over to unlock it and swing it open.
"You should have checked to see who it was first."
I suppressed a gasp at seeing Woody Taylor-Francis standing out in the corridor. I tried to close the door, but he pressed his palm against it to keep it open.
"I'm not here to kill you," he drawled. "This time. Forrest called; he told me and Leif to get our asses over here."
I shook my head and started to formulate questions in my brain. Questions that remained unasked, because I suspected Forrest hadn't given him an explanation either. He'd snapped his fingers, and Woody went running.