Page 75 of Seven

My attention was all on Tallie as I ended the call. I watched her walk over to her car and open the door. Even from across the lot, I could see the tension in her shoulders. The weight of the day had taken its toll. She wasn’t used to this kind of shit—sneaking around and searching for codes like she was one of us.

But she’d done it, and she’d done it well.

She started her car, and Detective Joyner followed as she started out of the parking lot. I quickly pulled out behind them. I was no longer worried about being seen, so I stayed pretty close. Tallie weaved through the traffic like she had somewhere to be. I had no problem keeping up until a fucking semi pulled out in front of me, blocking my view.

In a blink, the streets seemed to implode, and cars were clogging up every damn lane. A red light caught me, and Tallie and the detective slipped through.

“Shit,” I muttered, gripping the wheel.

I grabbed my phone and dialed her number, but after one ring, it went straight to voicemail. By the time I made it through the next break in traffic, she was gone. I checked every lane, but there was no sign of her or Detective Joyner.

I dialed her number again, and when her voicemail came on, I spat, “I’ve lost you. I got hung up at the light. Call me back.”

I waited a minute, then sent her a text.

When I didn’t get an answer, I tried again. This time, I was a little harsher. “Tallie. What the hell?Answer your goddamn phone.”

I ended the call and was about to try again when Grim asked, “You told her to head to your place after, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then, she’s probably headed there.”

“You’d think, but why won’t she answer the fucking phone?”

“It’s probably on silent or ran out of juice.”

“I don’t know, man. I knew this wasn’t a good idea.” I grabbed my phone and dialed Ghost’s number. As soon as he answered, I told him, “I lost Tallie in traffic. She’s supposed to be headed there, but I’m not sure. Call me if she shows.”

“Alright. I’ll keep an eye out.”

“Appreciate it, brother.”

I continued towards the house, but something didn’t feel right. Grim must have had the same feeling because his expression turned tense, and he said, “If you’re that worried about it, call Shep and have him ping her phone.”

“Good idea.”

I immediately called Shep and started filling him in on the situation. I tried to keep my voice steady, but the panic was creeping in. “I lost her in traffic, and now she’s not answering her damn phone. Need you to do your thing and find her.”

“Gimme a second.”

I could hear his fingers tapping on the keys, but I had no idea what he was doing, and I didn’t care. I just needed him to find her. “Come on, Shep. Tell me you got something.”

“I’m gettin’ there. Just hang on a second.”

Grim didn’t say a word. He knew I was two seconds away from losing my mind, so he just sat there and waited for Shep to announce, “I got her.”

“Thank Christ. Where the hell is she?”

“She’s over on Cooper Lane at her parents’ place.”

I didn’t even respond.

I just ended the call and pressed my foot on the accelerator.

Traffic blurred past as I raced across town. I had no idea why she’d decided to go against me and go over there alone. I knew there had to be a reason. I pushed the thought away. It didn’t matter why. The only thing that mattered was that she was there, and no one was looking out for her.

And I had a bad fucking feeling about it.

---