Page 183 of Say My Name

“No, I don’t.”

The call ends without a goodbye.

Evan meets me in the lobby with an overnight bag and a printed itinerary.

“Commercial flight to Montrose,” he says. “A car will take you the rest of the way. Weather may slow the drive into Telluride.”

“I’ll let Elena know.”

“The Weller withdrawal notice went out twenty minutes ago.”

“And the board?”

“Unhappy.”

“They’ll survive.”

“I thought you might feel that way.”

I take the bag from him. “Thank you.”

He nods and returns to the elevators.

In the car, I send Elena my flight details and expected arrival time.

Her response appears before we leave downtown.

Elena: Drive carefully through the mountains.

Five ordinary words, and I have to look away from the screen for a moment.

I type back.

I hesitate for a half second, then type the truth.

Dominic: I will. Cliff knows. He asked you to call him.

The dots appear, disappear, then return.

Elena: How angry is he?

Dominic: Extremely.

Elena: At you or me?

Dominic: Yes.

Her response comes a few seconds later.

Elena: That sounds like Cliff.

A smile touches my lips, but a weight still presses against my ribs.

I don’t know what waits for me at that cabin. Elena gave me permission to come, but she hasn’t promised anything beyond opening the door.

It has to be enough until I reach her.

At the airport, I text Evan.