As he walked back to his truck after his usual “I’ll think about it,” to the doctor, he was already planning his departure. Or escape. He’d go back across the floating bridge and hit the 405, take it down to Interstate 90, and then he’d be headed home. The weather looked like it would hold until he got well over the Snoqualmie Pass, so it should be clear sailing.

He stopped to pay his bill since the place didn’t run to video checkout, and told the clerk he’d be leaving within the hour. The place did run to a coffeepot in the room—this was Seattle after all—and he started a fresh pot while he changed back into jeans and packed his other clothes and what little else he’d unpacked. He preheated the thermos with some hot water, then refilled it with coffee that should get him home even after the few hours’ sleep he’d managed. Then he poured what was left into the now empty cup from this morning, grabbed up his duffel bag and the thermos and headed for the truck, pulling the door closed behind him.

He had just put his bag on the seat and the cup in the holder when his cell rang. A faint smile flitted across his mouth; Natalie, no doubt, making sure he was getting on the road. He pulled the phone out and glanced at the screen. Frowned at the unfamiliar number that wasn’t in his contacts. But he knew the area code was for the other side of the Sound, so he answered.

“Adam? Quinn Foxworth. Are you still in town?”

His brow furrowed with curiosity. What would Quinn want with him, after yesterday? Why did he even have his number? “Yeah. I was just getting ready to leave.”

“Glad I caught you, then. Can you delay going back?”

“Ask the snow heading for the Cascades. Why?”

“Amanda is here, at Foxworth. And we need your help.”

He went very still. There wasn’t a single thing he could think of that Amanda Bonner would need—or want—his help with.

“My...help?”

“With something she found. It could be nothing, or it could be important. Can you get here?”

“Does she know you’re calling me?”

“She knows.”

“And she agreed to it?”

“Yes.” There was a pause before Quinn said wryly, “Not happily, I admit, but she agreed.”

“She must be desperate.”

“We all are, at this point.”

And just how was he supposed to say no to that? He had no idea what they thought he could do, but for Amanda to agree to contacting him, desperate must be the word.

He sucked in a deep breath, and said, “All right.”