Page 54 of John’s Yearning

“Okay.” She walked toward her bedroom, when she suddenly looked over her shoulder. “Do I have time for a quick shower?”

He nodded. “Go ahead.”

When she disappeared, he walked back into the living room, pulled out a small Ziploc bag and put the ransom note as well as the photo of Buffy the kidnapper had sent in it. Maybe his team could find out where the photo was taken, though at first glance the room Buffy was in looked too generic to provide any clues. But maybe somebody else had a better eye.

John pulled his cell from his pocket and scrolled through his contacts, then pressed Benjamin’s number.

“Hey, John. What do you need?”

“How far are you from Savannah’s flat?”

“About five minutes, why?”

“Is Damian still watching Alexi?”

“Yep.”

“Good. I want you to come to Savannah’s flat. I’ve got something for you to deliver to HQ.”

“Be there in five.”

A click in the line, and the hybrid was gone.

He listened for Savannah, who was opening cupboards in the bathroom, and then heard the water of the shower running. He pressed another number, walking farther away from the door to the hallway.

A sleepy male voice answered his call.

“John, what the fuck?”

“Hey, Wesley, I need a favor.”

“At three in the morning?”

“You know the hours I keep. Can’t be avoided.”

“Yeah, whatever. Make it snappy.”

“I need you to take in a guest for a few days.”

“What kind of guest?”

“A client, a woman.”

“Did her place burn down or something?”

“No.”

“You need me to protect her?”

“Yep.”

“I’m assuming there’s a reason you can’t do it yourself.”

One reason? Hundreds of reasons. “Yep.”

“I’m assuming that’s all the information you’re gonna give me,” Wesley said dryly.

“Afraid so. Can you do it?”