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Lark reaches for her own phone. “I’m getting somebody.”

“Mercy was going there.”

The words come out too loud.

Everybody looks at me.

“She was going upstairs to get Mama and my suitcase.”

Junie is already moving toward the door. “Then we get Hyde.”

My phone rings in my hand.

Mercy.

I answer so fast I nearly drop it.

“Where are you?”

“Well, hello to you too.”

“Mercy.”

Something in my voice changes hers immediately.

“What happened?”

“Razor texted me.”

Silence.

Then, “Lock the school.”

Lark runs toward the front door.

“He sent a picture of Mama.”

“What?”

“Inside Bitter’s apartment.”

The line goes dead quiet.

“Mercy?”

“I’m at the garage.”

Relief almost takes my knees out.

“You didn’t go upstairs?”

“Not yet. Hyde stopped me to ask what I was doing with one of his laundry baskets because apparently motorcycles and felonies have not taught that man to mind his business.”

I press one hand against my chest.

“You’re okay.”

“Yes.”