“What have you done?”
I sit in silence, not knowing what to tell him. I’m not even sure what happened myself.
“Hang on,” he growls after a few minutes. I hear the door reopen then more mumbling. “Izzy says she hasn’t spoken to her for a couple of days.”
“Does she know where she’s staying?”
More voices in the background sounding slightly more frantic. Maybe I should have thought this part of the plan out better. Really, I should start thinking out everything better. Like investing in a pair of shackles to hook us together next time so she can’t sneak out. Realizing Grayson is saying something, I shake my head to refocus.
“No, she doesn’t. Teddy, has something happened to Sophia? You need to tell me what’s going on.” I can hear my sister-in-law talking to him in the background. They are going to kill me if I wake up one of their kids. It seems there is always a baby in that house.
“She’s fine. I just need to find her. If Izzy talks to her, can she ask her to call me?”
My brother is quiet for so long I wonder if we got disconnected.
“I think I fucked up, Grayson,” I add, barely whispering.
“Can you fix it?” he asks.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to sure as fuck try.”
After a couple more beats he makes a hmpphh sound.
“Okay. Call me tomorrow.”
After apologizing again, I disconnect, looking at my phone. I’ve probably left twenty messages on her phone, sent as many texts without a response.
I try calling her one more time to no avail. I could try again tomorrow, but I have a sinking feeling that the longer I wait, the farther away she will get. The only option I can come up with now is calling hotels in London, but that’s a task that would take more time than I have.
Deciding to make one more trip to the first theatre, I pray the box office will be open so, with any luck, I’ll find something to help me. When I arrive, I scope out the ladies working at the theatre. I pick out what looks like the easiest mark, then make my move.
“Hi. I’m one of the videographers doing the piece on Webber’s new musical. I completely jacked up some of the film, so I have to reschedule for tomorrow.” After about twenty minutes of flirting with her, I finally make some headway. “Hey, you should come to the party. You know where we’re staying, right?” I hold my breath, hoping she’ll take the bait.
“I heard you were staying at the Cavendish.”
Perfect.
“Great!” I beam at her. “Tomorrow night about eight. Give me your number and I’ll text you the details.” I manage to extricate myself without actually giving her my name or my number. I have just a moment of guilt thinking about what I’ve done. I’ll do anything to get to Sophia. Making a mental note to send the girl a text later canceling the party, I head toward the hotel.
By the time I walk to the hotel, it’s dark outside. With exhaustion setting in and being more than a little pissed from chasing my tail all day, I walk into the hotel. If she would just have answered her fucking phone, we could have talked this out. Now I have to run an end game around reception at the hotel to find her room. As casual as possible, I stroll through the lobby picking up the house phone.
“May I please be connected to the room of Miss Sophia Wright?” I ask when the operator answers.
“Hello?” I hear her golden voice and instantly my heart skips. “Hello?” she says one more time before hanging up.
Now I just have to get to her without tipping my hand. I don’t want to give her a chance to take off again. I know I’ll get one shot at this, so it had better be a good one.
Choosing one of the chairs in the foyer, I watch the front desk intently. I can’t just go knocking on doors or pull the fire alarm since either option has the potential of landing me in jail. I also doubt I’ll be lucky enough for her to simply stroll through the hotel.
I’ve sat here for about half an hour when the staff starts questioning my motives, so I make my move. My first real luck of the night comes in the form of one of the crew. I only know because of the logo on his shirt, but it’s my best bet.
“Hey man.” I do my best to look like a college kid. “Do you know my sister, Sophia Wright? She was supposed to meet me down here thirty minutes ago. We’re going to be late.”
He studies me for a minute, trying to decide if I’m legit. Strangely, he doesn’t ask what we’re late for.
“Dude. I’d go get her but she didn’t tell me her room number.”
He must decide I look harmless.
