Page 94 of Firefly Effect

A few minutes later, Lincoln gets back on the phone. “I need to go.”

Panic claws through me. “Wait. What’s wrong?”

It sounds like he’s walking to his car. “Francine found out about the field trip and picked Lucy up from daycare to take her to the campground. She knew Lucy would want to play with her friends.” His car door opens and shuts.

“That doesn’t sound too terrible. I know Deep Creek is an awful place, but she’s safe with Francine.”

“Right, but there’s a firefly walk tonight at the campground. Lucy is bound to hear about that, and she’ll beg Francine to take her. A bunch of Lucy’s friends’ parents were begging me to hang back at camp with them to take the walk and see the fireflies.”

My blood goes cold. “Okay,” I say slowly. “But again, she’s with Francine. She’ll be okay, Lincoln. Are you heading there now?”

“Yes.” He sounds completely panicked and stressed, and I don’t blame him one bit.

“It’s not Francine’s fault. You haven’t told her anything.”

“I know,” he says with a sigh. “I’m going to call her before I freak out any more.”

“Good idea. Call me back.”

“I will.” A click as he ends the call.

I’m shaking as I wander around the bar like a zombie, wondering if I should be more worried than I am. With everything going on, the last thing Lincoln should be dealing with is Lucy roaming around Deep Creek Campground and checking out the fireflies.

The thought of Lucy, Francine, and Lincoln being there doesn’t sit right with me. I can’t focus on anything else, and I know I won’t be able to until I hear from Lincoln.

Then again, why do I need to wait for a call when I know he’s already headed to Deep Creek?

Without saying anything, without even taking off my apron, I head out the front door and stop when I realize I have no way to get to Deep Creek campground fast enough.

Patrick comes blowing out of the building behind me. “What’s going on?” he asks, a look of concern on his face.

“I need you to take me to Deep Creek Campground.”

Patrick looks at me like I just grew two heads. “What? Why?”

I grit my teeth. “Just please take me there. I’ll explain on the way.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FOUR

LINCOLN

I’m flooring it through town as I hang up with Evie and call Francine. Her phone rings and rings, but she never picks up. I try her a few more times before growling and slamming my hand into the dashboard.

Finally, I call Dylan. He picks up on the first ring. “Please tell me you have eyes on my daughter?” I demand, knowing I sound exactly how I feel.

“What? No, I had eyes on Evie like we planned. I was just about to call you.”

Shit shit shit. I pinch my eyes closed but only for a second. I need to concentrate on driving and getting to the campground. I rush to catch Dylan up with everything Evie and I talked about, finishing just as I pull into the parking lot.

“Hmm,” Dylan says, sounding distracted. “Evie and Patrick Vaughn just left Firefly. It looked like they were in a hurry.”

“Wait.” I replay what he just said. “Patrick Vaughn is back?”

“Yeah, just arrived tonight. He went straight to Firefly to see your girl.”

Well, that’s interesting. “Haven’t we been tracking Patrick? How did we not know he was coming home today?”

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