Relief slapped him so hard, he staggered back from it. “What? How?”

“I played a hunch and it turned out to be right.”

Nick pulled Kody against him and let out a nervous laugh. “Liv found my mom. She took her to the condo. They’re there now.”

“Oh, thank goodness! Is she okay?”

“Yeah.” For the first time since he’d left school, he felt good again. “Thanks, Livia. I owe you.”

“Think nothing of it. I won’t let her out of my sight until you get here. Believe me, nothing’s going to happen to her on my watch. You can trust me.”

“Again, thanks. I’ll be home soon.” Nick hung up and stuck his head back into the room to let Bubba and Mark know.

“Thank you, Jesus,” Mark breathed. “That’s the best news I’ve heard since the garage told me my Jeep wasn’t doomed from that electrical fire I started with my cell phone wire that short-circuited.”

While that might sound odd to most, that was a testament of supreme love from Mark, who had an unnatural attachment to his old, beat-up Jeep.

Bubba ruffled Nick’s hair. “How you holding up?”

“Much better now that I know she’s safe, at home. You?”

“Much better now that I know I’m not going to prison for first-degree murder for killing whoever took her.”

Nick laughed. “I hear you.”

Bubba nudged him toward the door. “Y’all go on. I know you want to check on your ma as soon as possible. See her with your own eyes. Tell her I’ll be over to bug her as soon as I get Mark home and tuck him in.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Mark said sarcastically. “Can you mop the drool off my chin, too, while you’re at it?”

Bubba ignored him. “You need any money for a cab?” he asked Nick.

“Nah, we got it. Stay in touch.”

“You, too.”

Heading out, Nick texted Kyrian and Acheron to let them know that everything was okay on the home front.

You sure? Kyrian texted back.

All good. Mom’s safe at home. It was a false alarm.

Good to hear it. I’ll pass it along to the Squires. Let me know if you need anything else. Rosa’s on standby, too.

Thanks, boss. As Nick started to slide his phone into his pocket, he got a text from Acheron, asking about his mom. He paused in the hallway to answer. I’m on my way to check on her.

AR. Keep me posted. PN. There’s an ill wind blowing. Keep it at your back, Cajun. Call if you need anything. Pax.

Nick returned his phone to his pocket as another weird feeling went through him. One that raised the hairs on the back of his neck again.

For a second, he thought he saw another zeitjäger as the time on the clock showed 11:34.

Kody frowned. “You okay?”