“Park.”
I walk to the window.
“Park's on the team, Phoenix. Park touches this and Callahan has his contract Tuesday too.”
“Park's already offering.”
I close my eyes.
“Tell Park thanks. No. Not his problem.”
“Okay. Diane. You got a last name.”
I press my forehead against the cold glass.
“Laurent, I guess. Unless she took a married name. I don't know if she's married. I know she's Paul's older sister. I know she lived in Frosthaven when Theo was small. I know she worksin education, I think. Theo said library, once. Not a librarian. Something adjacent.”
“That's enough to find her. I'll find her.”
My eyes burn. I press the heel of my hand into them.
“Phoenix?”
“Yeah.”
The word I need to send is small. The word I need to send is everything.
“Don't make a circus. Just... if you find her, tell her Maddox says he's okay. Tell her to tell him I'm okay. Tell her I saidwait for me.That's it. She'll understand or she won't.”
“Wait for me?”
“Yeah.”
He's writing. I can hear the pen on something.
“Copy.”
He waits. I wait. He's trying to let me say the thing. I can't say the thing yet. I can barely hold the phone.
“You need somewhere to sleep past Tuesday?” he says finally.
“Yeah.”
“You got my couch. Indefinite. Don't argue.”
I swallow.
“I won't argue.”
A car passes on the street below. Headlights cut the ceiling.
“Good.”
“Phoenix?”
“Mm.”
I rest my forehead on the cold glass.
