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“All my information is from the news, so I’m not sure if there’s more than this. We know the house was ransacked, from top to bottom. No idea if they found what they were looking for. Mrs. Sherman”—Cassie heard him flip over a piece of paper—“whose first name is Rose, is missing.”
“Missing?” Goosebumps erupted across Cassie’s skin. “Is she dead?”
“I have no idea.” Jason sighed into the phone, and Cassie wished he was there with her, just to feel his warmth instead of the chilly Chicago air. “There was no blood at the crime scene, so they either took her away or she escaped before they got to her. She’s also eight months pregnant.”
“That can’t be good for the baby.”
“Probably not.”
“Do they have any idea where she’s gone?”
“If so, they’re not telling the public.”
Cassie scuffed her shoe against the sidewalk. “Makes sense. They don’t want to tip anyone off.” It was her turn to sigh into the phone. She wondered if he missed her as much as she missed him. “I wonder what she knows.”
“She could be a key witness against Aguilar. I doubt she can run forever, especially at eight months pregnant.”
“I wish there was something we could do.”
Jason hesitated. She could feel the gears turning in his mind. “I know some people—”
“No.” Cassie shook her head, and she hoped he could feel it through the phone. “You’ve already done so much. I don’t want you to get in the middle of this.”
“I want to help.” His voice was quiet, and Cassie heard how genuine his words were. “I’m not the kind of person who can just stand by when I know I can do something.”
Could she blame him? Hadn’t that been her life for the last few months? With all these ghosts and visions filling her mind, she didn’t feel like she could turn away from a lost soul. She’d be a hypocrite if she denied Jason the same opportunity to set things right. “Okay.”
“Okay?” He sounded surprised. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” She smiled, and she knew he could hear it in her voice. “I appreciate the help. Adelaide will, too. If things don’t work out here in Chicago, maybe we’ll have a new lead to come home to. Just do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
Cassie’s heart fluttered at his response. It took her a second to refocus and get back on track. “Please be careful. Aguilar is dangerous. If he sees you poking around, he might send someone after you too. And I can’t—” Cassie’s voice broke, and she had to clear her throat before she could talk again. “I’ve already lost one person I care about. I can’t lose another.”
“I know.” Jason’s voice was hushed. Gentle. “I promise. I’ll just talk to a few people and see if I can dig anything up. I’ll be discreet.”
“Thank you.”
“And Cassie?”
“Yeah?”
“You be careful, too, okay? I don’t want to lose you either.”
Cassie smiled, despite their grave proclamations. “I promise.”
As Cassie hung up, Harris stood with her hands shoved in her pockets, far enough away to give her some privacy. Cassie made a show of putting the phone back in her purse, and Harris gestured for her to come closer.
“Come on, I’m freezing.” Harris’ shoulders were hiked up to her ears. “Let’s get back to the car.”
Cassie nodded and crossed the street with the detective. When they reached the other side, she cast a glance at Harris. “I’ll tell you about mine if you tell me about yours.”
Harris didn’t laugh. “Tony Stoll is dead.”
Cassie stumbled to a stop, and when Harris didn’t slow down, she had to jog to catch back up. “The guy who killed Sherman? The guy who almost killed you?”
“He didn’t almost kill me.” But Harris rubbed her arm where the man had shot her. “But yeah, him.”
