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I’m sure it’s her. But is she okay?
Leo says, “Tell me the plate number. I’ll run it now.”
Two minutes later, we have a name.
“Alec Waters,” I snarl, rage building as I stare at his face on my screen. He looks vaguely familiar, but no more than any other person I might see at the grocery store or crossing paths on the sidewalk.
“Thea never mentioned him?” Cole asks.
“Never.” If she had, I would have investigated him already.
Rylan peers over my shoulder. “What does he want with her?”
Nothing good. I feel sick as I ask, “Do you think he drugged her? Knocked her out? She doesn’t look conscious.”
Cole’s voice dips dangerously. “Probably.”
Shit. Now that I’m looking at Alec Waters, now that I have a face to this, I’m even more terrified.
“What is he going to do to her?” I blurt out, my fears breaking free. “Hurt her? Does he want to ransom her? Does he—” Oh, God. Each possibility is worse than the last. “Thea is… she’s so beautiful and sweet and... what if he thinks he can sell—” My throat closes up.
Cole claps me on the shoulder. “Don’t assume the worst. We’re a long way from that.”
“He lives in Chappaqua,” Leo says. “We’ve got an address.”
Thea!
I leap up from my seat. “Let’s go.”
“We will.” Cole glances between Rylan and Leo. “Rylan. Grab the bags. Leo, get the car started.”
“I’m going with you.” There’s no way I’m not going to find Thea.
Cole gives me an appraising look, then jerks his chin in agreement. “Grab the laptop. Find whatever information you can about this Alec Waters before we get there.”
Snatching up the laptop, I jog out after Leo.
But I won’t just be on the computer. I’ll do anything to save Thea.
Chapter 22
THEA
This time when I open my eyes, everything stays in one place.
Before—I don’t know how long ago—I woke up and everything was spinning. The pain and nausea were so intense, I had to close my eyes against them.
The dark dragged at me. I couldn’t make myself stay awake. Even though there was a voice whispering frantically to me, open your eyes, open your eyes, you need to know what’s happening.
But I couldn’t. And part of me didn’t want to.
I was too scared.
So I succumbed to the black, where it didn’t hurt, and I wasn’t sick and terrified and didn’t need to deal with reality.
Now I’m back.
Still nauseous and lightheaded, with a throbbing headache. The light hurts my eyes. I feel sore all over.
