Page 71 of When Darkness Calls

Ethan Cochrane. Was that Logan’s assistant?

That was the guy’s name, right? The one he mentioned earlier…the one Dani had been talking to…

Fuck, I really hope not.

But as I watch him stalking towards her, maybe it really is.

She looks up and waves as he approaches, but before he can step onto the bricked area of the plaza, Liz barrels down the hill from Corvin Hall, crashing into Dani’s back with a loud cackle, nearly toppling them both to the ground. Their laugh flows through the campus and a couple of heads turn in their direction.

Ethan halts in his steps, spine straightening before he turns toward the food court, not looking back.

What’s this guy’s deal?

The girls stand, grabbing their bags, and talking as they make their way toward the parking lot, arms linked.

Slowly, my feet inch back to the shadowed area of the lot beneath a large oak tree. Sliding behind the trunk, I watch as they climb into Liz’s car, the sound of their voices cut off by the sharp slamming of their doors, and then they’re gone.

I’m not speeding down Main Street. I swear, I’m not. But I’m not going slow either. In the back of my mind, I can only think of getting to Dani as soon as fucking possible. This Ethan dude…I don’t like him. I don’t like his vibes.

There’s something there, I just don’t know yet. It might be tied to the drug scheme we’ve been following trying to get answers about Cade’s mom, or something completely different. But either way. It’s something.

I’m turning the corner on Blackburn Ave, when a van speeds past me. Like I said. I’m not speeding, but this guy definitely fucking is.

It’s a dark gray, almost black. And that’s when I realize it’s the same van from the school.

Whoever is driving must be in a rush to get home after work.

But the thought stops there.

In the window of the back door, a light red haired girl comes into view. She’s moving frantically. Pounding on the glass, mouth agape like she’s screaming, but I can’t hear anything over the rush of wind.

I glance down at the van’s bumper, searching for tags, license plate number, anything. But there’s nothing there.

My hand tugs at the zipper on my jacket, grasping for my phone.

“Hello?”

“Alex. Alex. Make a fucking call, now. I’m on Blackburn heading east. There’s a dark gray van, possible abduction.”

He curses and I can hear him running through his house. “Okay, are you tailing them?”

“Yeah, but this guy is driving like fucking crazy. Get someone here now!” I yell over the wind, trying to stay steady with one hand gripping the handle.

I faintly hear the line click. I shoved it back into my jacket, leaning closer to the bars, hitting the gas. I get right up to the back of the van, the girl is screaming, crying, pounding her fists against the window. And there’s nothing I can fucking do but watch as they round the curve ahead. I try. I really do, but a car cuts me off, swiping my back tire, and I slide. Hard.

My motorcycle skids across the pavement, sparks shootings behind it as I roll to the side of the road.

“Oh, shit! Fuck, I’m so sorry. Grayson?” A voice calls from the car window. A guy is behind the wheel, blonde hair pushed across his forehead.

“Issac?”

“Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you.” He apologizes over and over. I stand, rolling my shoulder, staring after the van as it speeds out of Shadow Grove.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”

A few streets away I can hear the sirens of the cops Alex called. But it’s too late. The red glare of the taillights fades into the darkness of the trees.

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