“You, Sarah. It’s always been you. Be here within fifteen minutes or one of them dies. If I see a cop, they both die. And don’t be stupid and leave your phone behind. You’d better have it on you when you get here.”

Who are you?

A stupid text, but she had to try.

No answer.

Of course not.

In all caps, she typed,

I DON’T HAVE A CAR!

There’s one waiting for you in the handicapped spot just outside the emergency room. A black sedan. Keys are in it. I’m going to call and you keep your phone on so I can listen. Answer on the first ring or they die.

“Everything okay?” Asher asked.

She glanced up. “Yes.” She started to say something, then glanced at the camera on the wall. Could she chance warning Asher with a visual cue somehow?

Her brain clicked. She had to think through the fear that wanted to consume her. Not so much for herself, but for Gavin. And, if she was honest, her father. Maybe she didn’t hate him as much as she said she did. Or as much as she wanted to. Her phone buzzed. She stood. Asher did too.

“I’m going to the restroom,” she said and tapped the screen before it could ring again.

“I’ll check it out for you.”

Exactly what she thought he’d say. “Fine. I’ll just take this call while you do that.” She lifted the device to her ear. “Hold on one second.”

“I’m waiting.”

“I know.”

In the hallway, he followed her to the women’s restroom and knocked on the door. “Anyone in here?” No answer. He pulled the door open, then looked back at her. “Step just inside and keep your back to the wall while I take a look.”

With a glance at her watch, Sarah slipped inside the restroom. Asher started at the end and pushed open the first stall. Then the second. When he reached the fifth one, Sarah backed through the door and out into the hallway. With a grimace of regret, she turned and raced for the stairwell.

Just as she pushed the exit door open, she heard Asher’s frantic shout. Gritting her teeth, she refused to turn back. Maybe she was being incredibly stupid, but the one thing that kept her going was the fact that they were tracking Gavin’s truck. Whoever had taken him had taken his truck. But the person on the other end of the line didn’t know about the tracker. At the bottom of the stairs, she ran for the emergency department, dodging patients and other hospital staff while ignoring the dirty looks and yells to slow down.