She swiveled around.

“How will you get back here? I don’t think I’ll be taking a cab.”

“But I can. I’ll call one from Starbucks. It’s no big deal. I have cash. Besides, after you talk to your friend, you may feel comfortable asking him to let me join you. Either way, I’m cool.”

“That’ll work.”

Cate exited into the hall to call her handler.

He didn’t answer until four rings in. “Sorry. It’s crazy around here. What’s up?”

She briefed him fast and ended with her requests. “I want you to call the school as my dad ASAP and spring me. Also, can you get a tail on us?” Overkill, perhaps . . . but better to be safe.

“In fifteen minutes?” He sounded frazzled. “We’re working three homicide scenes, none of them close to you. Let me see if I can round anyone up. But call and give me the Starbucks location after you get there so we can keep tabs on you if the tail doesn’t happen.”

“Will do.”

She pressed the end button and weighed the phone in her hand.

They were on the cusp of a solution to the Stephanie Laurent case. She could feel it.

Before she and Kayla got in that cab, she’d also send Zeke a quick text. By now, he’d have left the campus—and his Martinez persona—behind, and he didn’t need any distractions.

But if Kayla’s friend knew any details about Stephanie’s case . . . and Stephanie had disappeared during a drug pickup . . . Zeke should be in the loop.

At this stage, all it would take was one pertinent fact to give them the breakthrough they’d both been hoping for.

And this could be it.

A number he’d hoped never to see again flashed on his cell screen, and Will stiffened in his seat behind the security desk at Ivy Hill.

Blast.

His contact had already said goodbye. Their association was supposed to be over.

And he or she never called during working hours—like tonight. They knew he was on duty . . . at their request.

Dread pooled in his gut.

This must be very, very important.

He pressed talk and put the phone to his ear. “Yes?”

“I need one more favor.”

“I thought we were finished.”

“We are. This will be our last contact. A cab will be arriving at the front gate momentarily. Kayla Harris will get into it. Don’t stop her. She believes she’s been cleared to leave school.”

“Where is she going?”

“That isn’t your concern.”

He swiveled his chair toward the wall and lowered his voice. “I don’t want anyone else hurt.”

“She won’t be.”

“How can I be certain of that?”

“You’ll have to trust me.”

“That’s asking a lot.”

“Sign her out, Will.”

The line went dead.