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“Perhaps you say nothing. Simply open yourself to him.” He pats my shoulder and stands, leaving me to stare ahead.
I sigh yet again and close my eyes, clearing my thoughts. Opening myself as he said. For a moment, everything inside me is silent. Then when I do speak, I’m ashamed that the first thing I do is ask for something. And it’s not forgiveness or even a prayer for my family. It’s a wish for Skye.
My phone rings, and I tug it from my pocket.
“Maxton,” I answer.
“She’s gone, Arran. She’s gone!”
I stand, my heart pounding in my chest. “Skye?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know who else to call.”
“Who’s gone?”
“Maisie.” I hear sniffling and a soft sob. “She went back home, Arran. She took the Tahoe. It will be hours before I can get there. What if she’s already gotten there and someone was waiting?”
My mind races with all the worst possible scenarios. Things that could happen to a young girl. The horror of my sister’s death and it happening again to her.
Thomas Cameron had many debts. But it’s not the amount of money he owed that’s the real danger. It’s the people he owed it to.
When I told Skye it would take a while to sort it all out, I wasn’t exaggerating. There are still many of those debts left unpaid. With them safely in Vermont, I didn’t make it a priority the way I should have. I was taking my time.
Fuck!
“Where are you going, child?” Father Nikolai calls from the pulpit as I rush out of the church.
“There’s an emergency. Pray for us,” I yell over my shoulder. Then to Skye, I ask, “Do you have any idea if she’s made it home yet?”
“No. She won’t answer my calls. It’s my fault, Arran. She begged me to go back, but I didn’t want to. I was afraid.”
“None of this is your fault,” I tell her.
“Arran.” She sniffles, and the fact that she’s openly crying now after being so brave tears at my soul. “Can you get to her?”
I make a mental map, calculating the amount of time it will take to travel the distance. I’m not far from Chestnut Hill, but I know someone who might be closer.
“Can you get to the regional airport?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Go there. I’m going to make arrangements for you.”
“What about Maisie?” A door slams and she’s out of breath, as if she’s running.
“I’ll ask Gunn and Ruslan to head there now. They’re in that area.”
“Please hurry, Arran. Please save my sister.”
With determination, I say, “I will.”
25
MAISIE
Home sweet home.
Only, it’s not as sweet as I imagined it would be. I thought I’d return to warm memories, the familiar scent. The feeling of safety I grew up with. Instead, I’m met with cold and eerie silence. It’s dark too, as if even the early morning sunlight refuses to penetrate the lifelessness in here.
