Page 60 of Rush

That’s when Nora moved.

Tightness filling her chest, she kicked off the counter, vertigo causing her to crash into a wall as she staggered to theliving room. She blinked to clear her vision. The room was empty and the juice box lay on the floor.

“Sophie!”

Heart thumping, choking on her own cries and the adrenaline racing through her veins, she raced up the stairs, throwing open doors, calling Sophie’s name.

Nothing.

Flying back down the stairs, she slipped down the last five steps, landing on her ass. She wasn’t thinking, just reacting as she struggled to her feet, racing for the front door, throwing it wide.

The street was quiet. Not even a bird chirp could be heard.

Reaching into her back pocket for her phone, she realized she’d left it in the kitchen. She found the note sitting next to it on the counter.

She read it.

Not just a note. A ransom note.

Heart thumping so fast she could barely breathe, she picked up her phone. But she didn’t dial 911. She called Linc.

His phone rang. Then rang again. “Come on, come on, pick up.”

He answered on the third ring. “Hey, baby. What’s up?”

“She’s gone,” Nora screamed into the phone.

“What?Who’s gone?”

“Sophie! Someone took her.”

“Calm down and tell me where you are.”

Realizing she was yelling, Nora took a deep breath, and said, “Home.”

“Someone took her from the house?” Now Lincs voice was rising. “Who?”

“I don’t know. Some exterminator.”

“How the hell did he get in?”

“I let him in.”

“What?!” Now he was yelling. “You let a stranger into the house? What were you thinking?”

“I don’t know,” she said through sobs.

“Have you called the police?”

“He left a note, saying not to, so I called you first. I wasn’t sure what to do.”

“I’ll take care of it.” His harsh tone instantly made her feel two-inches tall. “Stay put. I’ll be home in a few minutes.”

“Linc!” she shouted before he had a chance to hang up. “I’m sorry.”

She received dead air in reply.

Chest heaving, she sank to the floor, bringing her knees to her chest. She wrapped her legs with her arms and dropped her head. She couldn’t stop crying. Loud wracking sobs shook her body as she hugged herself tightly, rocking.

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