Page 126 of It Starts With A No

Seth took his eyes off the road and reached into his pocket.

“Seth!” Oliver reached across the steering wheel and straightened the car.

The car next to theirs blared its horn, and the driver shot them an irate glare, which they completely deserved.

“And you’re driving like you’re in an F1 race.” Oliver blew out a breath. “I hope, for your sake, that she’s fine.”

* * *

Where are the patrol cars? Where are the police officers? Seth stopped the car behind the two other cars and got out. Are they in the house?

It wasn’t too farfetched to think Clary would invite them in for dinner and to take a break.

He strode past the black sedan, then frowned at the gold Porsche.

“Another Eolenfeld?” Oliver asked and peered over at the mansion.

“Stay here.” Seth dashed across the stone pavement to the door and swallowed a curse when he noticed it was ajar.

“It’s unlocked.” Oliver stepped forward, his hand out toward the door.

Seth grabbed his arm and pulled him back. He put his finger to his lips before pushing the door cautiously open.

He could hear voices, but they sounded far away and he couldn’t make out what was being said. “Stay—”

A loud bang went off, and Oliver jumped back.

A gunshot.

Seth would recognize that sound anywhere. He’d lost count of the times he’d been woken up by it.

Shooting up their stuff was one of Holly’s favorite pastimes. It was another signal to run and hide, to remain out of sight until whatever was bothering Holly passed.

He couldn’t do that this time.

“Stay here,” Seth hurriedly whispered to his brother and ran into the house.

On the back patio, Detective Lowe was struggling with Clary’s assistant.

“Clary!” He scanned the area, but she was nowhere to be seen.

There was no reply from her either.

Seth sprinted forward and was about to help the detective when he noticed the hand wrapped around one of the white columns of the railing. A hand that was quickly slipping.

“Clary!” He lunged forward against the railing, just as the fingers disappeared from around the column.

There was a piercing scream.

No. Seth thrust his hand through the gap between the columns. God, no. He grasped at whatever he could.

Which was all he could do since he couldn’t see beyond the railing. “Please.” That was all the prayer he could utter.

God’s generous like that, Clary’s voice rang in his head—at the same moment he felt a heavy jerk on his hand. “Clary.”

Seth reached his other hand through the same gap and blindly groped until his fingers wrapped around Clary’s wrist.

At least he thought it was her.

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