Page 17 of Silver Secrets

Her stomach cramped. “Davis.”

“Yes. It looks exactly like what happened to Davis Martinez.”

“Is there a cave system? Could this be a copycat? How could he get completely across the country without anyone knowing? Have there been other cases and you just haven’t told me? Why are you telling me now?” Her voice raised an octave over the questions, her lungs aching with every breath she’d taken.

“Sloane, slow down. Is there someone you can call? Someone you trust to be with you right now?”

“No. That was the number one rule when I got my new identity. No one could know. No one could know my real name, or know what happened to me. I’ve never told anyone, Kimi. Not a single soul. You said it had to be that way. So I’m alone in this. Still.”

“It did. And you are safe because you followed those rules. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about this. I’m breaking about six different statutes right now just by calling you, but I want you to be safe. What you went through…”

“I’m fine. I’ve been on my own this whole time.”

“Are you still seeing clients?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t take on anyone new until we have concrete evidence of what’s happening here. And it might be best to start meeting your current clients online.”

It was all so ridiculous. He hadn’t been active in over a decade. Sloane was the last… well, she had gotten away. Started over. Built a life she was proud of. There was no way that she was going to stop her practice. That was the only thing that gave her purpose. A reason to get up every day. Without that, Sloane knew she would fall apart.

“Virginia is over a thousand miles away from where I am, Kimi. I’m not going to put my life on hold just because something looks like it could be him. It’s been over a decade. There’s no reason to suspect this is the same guy or that he’s looking for me. My case was out in the public. It was on national news! Someone could be copying him.”

“I just want you to be smart, Sloane.”

“I’ll take the same precautions I’ve been taking.” She tapped her finer against the pendant hanging around her neck. “Please call me when you find her. If you find her.”

“I will. Stay safe.”

“You too.”

* * *

A text pinged through on her phone. Sloane blinked, releasing the tight hold she had on the news article in her hand.

Mae:

Hey, Girl! I’ll be at your house in five! Hope you’re ready for this fun run!

Shit. Sloane looked at her phone. How the hell had two hours gone by without her even noticing? She’d completely forgotten to charge her phone after Kimi called. There was practically no use bringing it with her to the race, but she still tucked it into her back pocket as she rushed to put all the news clippings and journals back into their box. She was sliding it under her bed just as she heard a knock at her door.

“Sloane? Come on! We’re going to be late for registration, and you know Lily will kick our asses if that’s the case! I walked all the way here! My ass hurts too much already!”

“Coming!” Sloane yelled as she walked to the door. She didn’t miss the way Mae’s face fell when she saw Sloane wasn’t ready.

“What’s going on? You’re not going to the race?”

“No! I am. I just lost track of time doing some research for a patient. You can come in. Give me five minutes?”

“Okay, but you have to be the one to apologize to Lily and get us back on her good side.”

“I’ll promise her some pie at Dolly’s or a babysitting session so she and Gunner can get their freak on without having to listen for the baby.” Sloane took off down the hall to Mae’s laughter.

Twenty minutes later they were standing in front of a very disgruntled Lily.

“I’m sorry we’re late. It was all my fault.”

Lily waved her hand at them. “It’s fine! The guys just misplaced a big box of registration forms so I’m running around a little frazzled.”

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