Page 34 of Save Her Life

“And I’m guessing that was her teacher who called?”

“Uh-huh. Actually…” She held up her index finger to Brice and called Penelope back. When the woman answered after the second ring, Sandra said, “I can’t reach her either, but I’m sure she’s fine. If she shows up, please have her call me. Obviously, bill me for today’s full lesson.”

“Thank you, Sandra. I hope you get a hold of her. I just have this… Well, I probably shouldn’t say this to her mother, but there’s a burning in my stomach, like a premonition that something is wrong.”

Sandra shielded herself from the woman’s psychic hunch. “I’ll call you once I get her.”

“Take care, Sandra. Bye for now.” Penelope ended the call, and Sandra racked her brain for an explanation.

What if her daughter had been injured in an accident and was unable to answer her phone? What if she was lying in the street somewhere? Or in a hospital?

Calm down, Vos. Breathe.

She was grateful for the rational little voice in her head. It was her reliable companion and guide when she needed it most.

“Have you tried her close friends?” Brice perched himself on the edge of her desk.

“Would you kindly get your ass off my?—”

“Well, you haven’t lost your sense of spunk.” Brice remained planted for a few seconds longer, likely just to defy her. “Her friends? Have you called them?”

“You’ve heard all I’ve done so far.” She selected Avery from her contacts. The line rang once and hit voicemail.

“Avery, it’s Ms. Vos,Sandra, Olivia’s mom…” She was rambling, not at all like herself. After all, Avery would know very well who she was. “I’m looking to talk with Liv. Please have her call me.”

Another dead end. And was Avery involved in an accident with Olivia? Were both girls unable to get to their phones? But even as the thought cycled through, she knew that wouldn’t explain why Avery’s phone had gone straight to voicemail. That indicated her phone was either off or she was on the phone and her call waiting line was tied up, which was completely possible.

“Given the smoke coming from your ears and the look of constipation on your face, you’re thinking far too much.”

“What would you know of it, Sutton?” She dredged up his surname. They really had the stereotypical brother/sisterrelationship at times. Not like the one she had with Sam though. She and her twin were simpatico.

He waved his hands. “Sticks and stones.”

“My daughter is missing, and you’re bugging me at a time like this?”

“You don’t know that she is missing. Not yet. You’re leaping to the worst conclusions.”

“Thanks for putting those in my head.”

“They were already there. Just talk me through a normal Friday for her. She has her violin lesson, school before that, I presume?”

“Yes. Until three thirty.” She didn’t know if she cared for how he’d articulatedviolin lessonbut maybe that was a judgment on her part. Sometimes people viewed those with money in a harsh light, or as being above regular-people problems. Which was all utter crap. Everyone was the same. She’d hold back that her daughter attended one of the most esteemed private elementary schools in the country.

“And then…?”

“She and Avery, that’s her best friend who I just called, either pop into Georgetown Cupcake or go to DiversaBlend down the street from where we live.”

“DiversaBlend?”

“It’s some new coffee shop that pledges to donate a portion of their proceeds to diversity causes and claims to be environmentally conscious. They’ve opened a few test locations in DC.”

“Targeting Gen Z.”

“Yeah, I guess. Anyway, every other Friday, she heads out to Penelope’s rowhouse, which is where she was due tonight.” Olivia could have popped home for some reason, to grab her violin, though she often carted it to school with her, and lefther phone behind. Sandra was grasping for some innocent explanation.

“All right, we can work with that.”

She gave Brice a blank look. Whether they could or not, it was what they had. But at what point was it okay to worry? If this was an investigation related to her job, she’d have a calm, level head right now. But this was her baby, Olivia Grace. She had to be all right. She just had to be.

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