Page 158 of Exposé

"I'm hanging up now."

I jerked to the side and let loose an agonizing groan. "Wait, wait. I'm sorry."

"That's better—"

"And I need your help."

She let out a bitter laugh. “Of course you do. What is it this time? Another mess to clean up? Or are you just looking for someone else to blame?”

“It’s Ava.” The words came out harder than I intended. The line went silent. “She’s gone. Off the grid. No phone. No tracker. Nothing. I need to find her.”

"No."

"Callie, I need to find her.Please." Begging sat on my tongue like bitter greens, spreading across my mouth in poisonous tendrils.

Heavy silence stretched between us.

“Why should I help you?”

“Because she doesn’t deserve to be collateral damage in all of this. You know that.”

Another pause. Then a sigh. “You’re lucky I’m at home,” she muttered. “If Keith gets wind of this…”

“He won’t." I fist pumped in the air and pinched my eyes closed as pain lanced across my side. "At least not from me.”

“Give me a minute.” Fingernails clacking against a keyboard filled the line. “You’re looking for any activity tied to her?”

“Yes.”

"I'll call you back."

The line went dead and I checked her bank account one more time.

Gas fill up.

An ATM hit.

Then nothing.

"Come on, Ava. Where are you?"

I started the car and pulled out onto the road, the car tires kicking up loose gravel. Driving to the gas station she'd been to yesterday.

Riinngg.

My fingers slid the green button over in record time.

"Tell me you got something?"

"I ran her license plate through the LPR-Network, and I got a hit. Fifteen minutes ago, she was pinged pulling into a truck stop about an hour from you. I've sent you the address."

Relief hit me like a shot of adrenaline. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me.” She cut me off with a sharp exhale. “If this blows up, you’re on your own. Don’t call me again.”

The line went dead... again.

I glanced at the new target, then tossed the phone onto the seat and diverted towards the gas station. Every move sent pain lancing through my side, but I gritted my teeth and ignored it. I had a lead, and I wasn’t about to lose her again.

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