Page 201 of Chasing Sparks

Ash races to the tattoo parlor, and we hurry inside. He heads straight for Lucille’s temporary office. Sure enough, all her belongings are gone.

“Fuck,” Ash yells, pulling his phone from his pocket. “Pick up. Pick up. Dammit—voicemail.”

I need to calm Ash down because flying off the handle never helps in any situation, even one as dire as this.

“Hold up a minute. If Kevin’s guys had grabbed Lucille, why would they bother taking her things? That makes no sense. Is there any possibility she cleared out without telling you?”

Ash stops, considering my words. “I mean, it’s possible, but knowing the danger, wouldn’t she get word to me somehow?”

“Maybe she can’t right now. Keep calling, and hopefully, we’ll have an answer soon.”

Ash’s phone buzzes, and he grabs it on the first ring. “Thank God. Where the hell are you? Okay, I can do that. I’ll be there in twenty.”

He hangs up and motions to the door. “We need to take a ride.”

I slink down in the seat as Ash pulls into the seedy motel parking lot.

“What is this place?” I grumble.

“A shit hole,” Ash answers, smiling at my horrified expression.

“Why are we here?”

“You’ll see.”

He parks and walks around to open my door, wrapping a protective arm around me.

A couple of people, high on God knows what, yell something in our direction, and I scrunch closer to Ash’s side.

All my senses are on high alert, and I just want to leave and never return.

Ash strides to room #7 and knocks on the door.

Moments later, a man with dark blond hair and a beard opens it and ushers us inside. “You made good time.”

I glance around the room, at the dingy, outdated furniture and threadbare carpet, and the seed of unease in my stomach grows.

But then I see Lucille emerge from the bathroom.

“You’re okay,” I cry, not bothering to stand on ceremony.

She walks over, giving me a quick hug. “I’m fine. Sorry to worry you.”

“You scared the shit out of me,” Ash interjects as we sit around the rickety table.

“Couldn’t be helped,” the man replies, turning his attention to me. “I’m Trace. It’s nice to meet you, Ori.”

“You’re the agent?”

He nods. “Something like that.”

“What’s going on?” Ash asks, resting his forearms on the table.

“I’m moving Lucille somewhere safe,” Trace replies.

“But I thought it was all going down tomorrow. Aren’t you taking a risk moving her now?”

Trace clears his throat and gazes at the far wall. “I lied. See, I didn’t know who the leak was, so I fed you and your brother some fake info. Needed to figure out the answer real fast.”

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