Jethro had gone to work, saying he only had one class and would be back. With Roscoe at her feet and the door double-locked, she was safe but useless. There had to be a way to help. She looked at her watch again.

Time was moving too slowly.

Her phone tinkled a cheery tune and she picked it up. “Hi, Mom.” It’d be good to hear her mother’s voice.

“Hi, sweetie. Where are you?” Her mom sounded upbeat.

“I’m at a friend’s house,” Nari said, pushing away the bowl.

Her mom was quiet for a moment. “Well, okay. The car at the airport was nice, but I figured you’d be here when we arrived.”

Nari jerked fully alert. “Arrived? Where are you?”

“At your apartment, of course. It’s a good thing I still had that spare key from when I visited in the spring.” Her mom sounded matter-of-fact. “Are you coming home soon?”

“Mom? Where’s Dad?” Nari asked, running to the door, panic heating her lungs until it hurt to gasp a breath.

“He’s planning to beat that Angus Force to death. We couldn’t believe it when we received your email about him being a killer. I even watched a news report on him on the plane ride here.” Her mom clicked her tongue.

“Mom? Where’s Dad?” Nari insisted.

Her mother sighed. “There’s not a thing in your fridge, so your dad took that nice rental car to the store. You remember the one where they make the homemade pasta that we found last time? Well, he’s there, and I’m planning to cook—”

“Mom? Get out of there. Get out of my apartment and run to the neighbor’s. Right now.” Nari yanked open the door and ran outside into the hallway.

“What? Why—” Her mom screamed, and the sounds of a struggle came over the line.

“Mom!” Nari yelled, taking the cement stairs two at a time.

The scuffle continued, and then silence. The phone went dead. “Mom!” Nari yelled again, running outside into the rain and straight for her rental car. Nothing. Nobody was there. She quickly dialed Brigid while jumping in the car.

“You’ve got Brigid,” Brigid answered.

“Bridge? Send the police to my apartment right now. As fast as you can,” Nari directed, starting the engine and gunning the car out of the narrow alley by the industrial building. “I think Lassiter has my mom.” Tears choked her throat and she drove faster, trying to see through the rain and her tears.

Rapid typing came over the line. “I just sent the local police and transmitted an alert to HDD agents,” Brigid said urgently. “They’re on the way. Tell me where you are.”