Page 85 of Call Me Mrs. Taylor

His grip tightens. His mouth opens wider, his throat working like he’s trying to speak, but still, silence. His breathing gets ragged. His whole body is straining like he’s fighting something.

“Sir? What’s—“

“What are you doing?”

Faith’s sweet voice cracks through the room like a whip.

I jerk back, shaking off the man’s grip as she rushes over.

“I—"

I run a hand down my face. “He grabbed me. I think something’s wrong with him.”

Faith’s eyes flicker between me and him, her mouth pressed into a thin line, her face neutral.

Tooneutral.

Something isn’t right.

I know it.Sheknows it.

“I’m gonna go,” I mutter, already stepping back.

Nobody stops me as I turn and walk out the door.

I make it back to my car, my mind swirling with thoughts.

What the fuck else has this girl not told me?

I pull out my phone and hit her number, not even sure of what I’ll say when she answers. It rings a few times before she picks up. Loud music and the din of conversation spill through the line.

“Hey,” she says, her voice smooth, completely unbothered.

“Where you at?”

“Out.”

“Where?”

A beat of hesitation. It’s just long enough to confirm she doesn’t want me to know. Then, in the background, I hear a woman’s voice.

“Is that him?”

There’s rustling, then the sound of her hand covering the speaker. When she comes back, all she says is, “I’ll call you later.”

Before I can press her, the woman yells something.

I catch it just before the line goes dead.

Captain’s. It’s a sports bar off Moreland.

I stare at my screen for a second, anticipating a callback, but when none comes, I toss my phone on the passenger seat next to me. Then I start the car.

The bar is packed.

I’ve been here once or twice before. Cool little spot to drink cheap and watch a game. A DJ rolls through some evenings. Tonight is one of them.

I spot her instantly.

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