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Lilly's best friend, as well as George's face, fill the screen in two little squares. George is in his truck, and based on how he stares out the front, he's driving. The phone is in a car mount or somehow propped up to the side of him. Denielle looks directly into the camera, and our eyes lock. At the edge of the screen, I see her twirl a strand of hair over and over—something she does when she's upset. I've learned her tells over the last few months.
"Denielle, I want you to go slowly inside. Flip the camera around so I can see. If at any point you think someone besides Lilly is in the house, leave! Someone from my team will be there soon; I messaged him from my other device. I'm on my way but won't get there until late tonight unless I can charter a plane along the way."
"Rhys." I turn at my name. Still behind his desk but now standing with his arms crossed over his chest, my father speaks up for the first time. "What is going on?" His tone is eerily calm, yet the question holds a warning.
"Colonel McGuire, sir. My name is George Weiler. I am Lilly's bodyguard and her brother's head of security."
Dad stiffens while Wes's jaw drops. Den looks equally slack-jawed in her little square. George just told my father who he is.
"George Weiler?" Dad repeats slowly as his arms go slack on either side of him. "The George Weiler?"
The?
My heart skips a beat as my father addresses George. I'm taken back to the day I found out who Nate was—when I saw him holding Lilly as she had her panic attack. The shock back then mirrors what is currently going on inside of me. It's like my brain is trying to catch up with what's happening, but I'm two steps behind at all times.
"Yes, sir," George confirms, never taking his gaze off the road in front of him.
Dad moves around the desk and to my side, peering down at George. "You have been off the radar for almost twenty years."
"That is correct, Colonel."
My father stares between Wes, the phone, and me, an almost dumbfounded look on his face.
"Denielle?" George redirects everyone’s attention.
"Yes."
"My associate will be there within thirty minutes. When you go inside, make as little sound as possible. I don’t believe anyone is there anymore, but I want you to be careful."
Den turns the camera around, and we can see the half-open back door and a short, dark hallway behind. My free hand fists into the material of my pants. I'm holding my breath, and so is Wes from the looks of it.
Den exhales audibly and takes one step inside. When she doesn't keep moving, George starts directing her. His tone is calm, almost soothing.
"The hallway leads to the motor pool on the left and the kitchen straight ahead."
"There is blood on the floor," she whispers, her voice cracking.
My father swipes his hand over his mouth.
"Jesus," Wes mumbles.
"How much? Turn on the hallway light to the left of you," George orders.
My lungs are burning, and I force myself to let oxygen into my lungs. My free hand is now permanently balled into a fist and pressed to my chest.
"I don't know. Not much. Some drops and smears?" She tries to stay calm, but the quiver in her tone is audible. The light on her end flicks on, and we can see what she's talking about. It is not much, just like someone cut themselves and didn't have a Band-Aid. But it's blood. It doesn't matter how much or how little. Someone was hurt.
"Good, keep going."
The kitchen entry slowly comes into view. I want to yell at her to move the fuck along. I feel like someone is slowly gutting me with every snail-paced step she takes. Dad's hand lands on my shoulder, and he squeezes. I have no clue, though, if he's looking at me. I can't avert my eyes from the screen.
Den finally reaches the kitchen and waves the camera around before she aims it at a spot behind the massive kitchen island. "There is something on the floor. It looks like dried...tea? And a cup. Someone threw it."
Lilly!
She continues, "A broken fruit bowl." Den's breathing fast, and I can only imagine what her heartbeat is like. With mine beating in my throat, Den must be close to passing out.
She changes the angle, and we can see a large white bowl shattered on the ground—apples, bananas, and grapes on the floor.
