Page 231 of Midnight Curfew

“Go get her!” I growl.

I hang up and grip the doorframe. “He’s there,” I tell Dallas. “Floor it!”

We race into St. Carmen, kicking up puddles and mud as we speed to the school. I’m glad we don’t see any cops. They’re probably all busy settling up whatever trouble happened during the storm, but at the same time, a cop might be nice.

Racing up the street, we barrel into the school’s parking lot until I see Barnes’s car. Screeching to a halt, Dallas and I both run out, and I spin around, noting my father’s silver car parked along the fencing.

We swing open the side door, both of us keeping our eyes peeled as we run as fast as we can up to Dallas’s classroom.

Racing through his door, we find the lights on but no Anna-Katherine. We search every corner, the nook, and I even yank out Dallas’s desk chair. She’s not hiding under his desk, though.

He holds up her backpack from the windowsill, her phone underneath.

My lungs empty, and I want to fly off the handle, but we don’t have time to lose.

“Spread out,” I tell him, moving for the door.

He chases after me. “No fucking way.”

I twist around and catch him, kissing him. My father’s car is still here, so she’s still here.

“He’ll stay away from places with cameras,” I whisper. “Check those. She might know to hide there.”

The gym, the cafeteria, the administration offices…

“I’ll check the ones without,” I tell him.

I pull out of his grasp, my T-shirt caught in his fist, but I run, heading for the locker rooms first.

Scanning each row, I hurry to the showers and coaches’ offices before jumping over to the girls’.

Both of them are empty, though. Crossing the hall, I search the teachers’ lounge and bathrooms and run down hallway after hallway, passing classrooms and looking for any sign of life.

“Mr. Ames,” a voice calls.

I spin around, seeing Barnes running for me.

“Did you find her?” I ask.

“No,” he says. “I’ve checked everywhere that’s not locked.”

Sweat covers his black hair. He must be roasting in that suit. The air conditioners are off.

“Go outside to the car,” I tell him, giving his arm a shove as I start to run away to continue my search. “Call the police and call me if you see Anna-Katherine.”

He speeds off toward the front of the school, and I charge up the stairs.

I’ve checked everywhere that’s not locked.

The Ministry offices.

I ascend the second flight of stairs and head up the smaller staircase to the Ministry. Please let him be alone. If Jerome, Milo, or Vincent is helping him…

Dallas and I might not make it out alive.

The doors appear ahead, and I slow, grabbing Mrs. Calderon’s letter opener off her desk. I slide it into the back of my pants.

I forgot my keys, but when I twist the handle, it opens.