“Then we go to Joey’s.” I stare up at him silently pleading.
Georgia stands, her chair scraping against the floor. “I’m coming with, then.”
“Georgia—” Grant starts, his face serious.
“I’m coming,” she repeats, firmer this time. I love that she’s asserting herself. She swallows hard. “I need to help.”
Grant’s shoulders drop, and he looks between us, then throws his hands up. “Fine,” he cracks, making Georgia’s whole face light up. These two are more than friends. I don’t care whatGeorgia is trying to sell to me, herself, or everyone else, for that matter.
“Should we walk?” I ask, already heading for the door and grabbing my sneakers.
“Yeah, it’s not far, and we can sneak around easier,” Luke says, grabbing a hoodie hanging in the mudroom and pulling it down over my head. “Plus, if Bennett comes back and sees my truck gone, he’ll know something’s up.”
“Yes!” I snap my fingers. “Good call.” I can already feel my adrenaline pumping.
When we stop outside, I quickly realize why Luke put one of his hoodies on me. The night air is cold, with that smell of fall quickly moving into winter.
We move at a quick pace, no one saying a word, but what more is there to say? It’s now time to see if any of our theories hold water.
The inn comes into sight. All the lights on the wraparound porch are on. When we enter, Mrs. Halloway, the innkeeper, lifts her head from where she’s sitting with a book in her lap. Her expression shifts from surprise to disapproval in half a second.
“Curfew was an hour ago,” she says, not unkindly but firmly. “I should be calling campus security.”
I step forward, putting on the best panicked, worried face that I can. “Mrs. Halloway. I’m so glad you’re still awake.”
“You’re breaking curfew.” She closes the book, standing to place it on the front desk she has stationed at the bottom of the stairs.
“Yes, I know, but I can’t get ahold of Emily, and I’m really worried. She came to town alone.”
Her expression softens, just slightly.
I walk over to stand closer to her, wanting this to be more girl-to-girl. That will make her more likely to tell me what I want to know. “She texted me, but it didn’t sound like her. Now I’mworried, and you know, with the curfew and all. Can you just tell me if she’s here? Safe? I was just—” I keep rambling until she finally cuts me off.
“I’m not supposed to tell you this, but…” Bingo. I bite the inside of my cheek so that I don’t smile.
She sighs, lowering her voice. “She slipped out about an hour ago. Didn’t say where she was going, but that’s how she always is.”
“Did she seem upset? Scared?” I ask next, wanting all the information I can get.
“Determined,” Mrs. Halloway says. “Like she had somewhere to be.”
“Oh, okay,” I tell her, inwardly panicking. Where the hell could she have gone? “Well, thanks. If she comes back, will you tell her I stopped by?”
“Will do, but you all need to get back home.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I agree. “Thank you again.” I spin around and hightail it out of there, everyone following me out.
“I take it we’re swinging by the garage?” Luke asks, grabbing my arm and pulling me more into him as we quickly walk toward it.
“Yes.” His hand slightly tightens his hold, but he doesn’t protest. Pieces are starting to click together for me. “Joey warned her about Murphy targeting someone new. If she’s looking for answers, if she thinks Joey can help...”
“Then that’s where she went,” Georgia finishes.
We head toward Main Street, cutting through an alley and back lots to avoid the main road where security might patrol. It’s dark and silent when we finally reach the shop. The bay doors are closed, the office locked up tight. Not one light is on. We all stand quiet for a moment, trying to see if we can hear anything, but there’s nothing. There’s definitely no one here. Crap.
“Empty,” Luke says, peering through the window.
“Joey’s house?” I ask. That’s the only other place I can think of where they can be.
