Page 91 of Drifter’s Heart

Call me as soon as you can.

I run through the messages, tasting her distress, and hit call.

“Winnie?”

“West?” Her voice is close. Close enough to echo.

It takes me all of five seconds to cross my apartment floor and yank my door open. “Ah, shit. Winnie⁠—”

Winnie’s tear-stained face greets me. Her eyes are bloodshot. Whatever peace we stole together, it’s not anywhere near enough to combat this.

“I can’t find them,” she whispers. “I can’t find anyone. Not even you.”

The anguish in her voice hits me at chest level. I grip her arms and pull her into me, wrapping her up tight. “I’m sorry. My phone—” I curse softly, kicking the door shut with a thud, and turn my back to it. “Tell me everything.”

It’s been hours since she left. Christ, has she been distraught and searching since then? And she didn’t run straight back to me. Because Winnie tried to solve this herself. Didn’t hit the panic button until she found no other alternative. My head streams with curses as I smooth her hair back from her face.

“I got home and she wasn’t there. I checked the townhouse. The courtyard out the back, though it’s frigid and there’s not much to check. Then her room. Her bed is rumpled, but it’s cold. And Lanie’s bed hasn’t been slept in. The sofa is a mess. The door was unlocked. The cars are there. My house…”

“Yeah?” I keep my voice calm. “You said you checked the hospital for Lanie, right?”

“That’s the first place I called. Then I went anyway because I know dispatch isn’t always the most reliable.”

I smile and press a kiss on her forehead. “Okay, so you did that. Is there anywhere else Lanie might go if she needs medical attention? Is there a birthing center or a doula or anything else?”

Winnie stops crying and looks up at me. “Wow. You even pronounced it right.”

“Thank you. Let’s get some water into you. We’re gonna make a plan.” My stomach is tight. “And you called Cord?”

“He’s driving down, in case she’s heading up to him for some reason.”

“Yeah, that’s a good plan.”

It’s a shit plan, but right now I’ll agree with whatever in the hell she wants me to say to get her to settle and think it through.

I stroke her hair and fetch her a washcloth with cool water while she rehydrates.

“Thank you,” Winnie murmurs, letting me care for her as I know she would for others.

“It’s okay. Have you called the police?”

She stares at me, her lips parting. She swallows. Nothing comes out. “I—No. Lanie⁠—”

“Could have been in an accident. I’m sorry, but I think we have to look at this from all angles. Let’s make the call. Do you want me to do it?”

Winnie’s eyes blaze and clear as determination sets in. “No. I’ve got this.” She speaks quietly and calmly. I let her grip my hand, digging her nails in as she talks and then hangs up. Her shoulders slump. “Nothing.”

“Okay. I’m—” Not in the freaking least sorry that there’s no report. “I’m glad that’s done. Now they know at least that you’ve called.”

“Yeah. Someone knows.” Her hands drift across my knees as I sit at the kitchen table and pull her down next to me. “I want to be out there.”

“I get that. And we will be. In a literal minute. Have you eaten today?”

Winnie glares at me. “I do not need to eat.”

“You’ve been running on adrenaline since you left me, by the sounds of it. We didn’t get much sleep last night, and your shift was emotional. The whole weekend. Winnie. I’m going to feed you on the way there. Let me. You need it if we’re going to sort this out. Understood?”

Her shoulders snap rigid in a tight line. For a moment I think she’s going to fight me, but then her back bows. “All right.”