Page 161 of The Drummer

Still wrapped in my arms, she returns her focus to the screen to scroll through the menus. I rest my lips on her hair, and my gaze collides with Luke’s.

His knowing grin sinks deep into my soul.

He motions toward Callie with his eyes.“Told you so,”he mouths.

I return his smile. There’s no point arguing.

He did.

And when I glance down at Callie, I almost burst out laughing.

Luke’s smile grows when he notices what I just did—Callie, out cold in my arms.

I tip a grin at him.

“Told you so,”I mouth back.

“Casey!”

The panicked cry jolts me awake. We stayed up late watching some Hollywood action flick starring Andis Carver. Callie picked it after her two minute nap she insisted didn’t happen.

We eventually all fell asleep on the couch, but now she’s running toward me with a terrified look on her face.

“What? What’s wrong?” I ask in a groggy voice.

“It’s Luke! He’s gone!”

“What do you mean he’s gone?”

“I don’t know. He’s not here! I was worried about him and went to check on him and he’s not in his room, not in the office!”

“Okay, calm down. Maybe he just left to get breakfast or something.” But nothing in my voice sounds like it believes that.

I slip my arms around her, trying to calm myself and think at the same time. There must be an explanation.

“Oh, god, Casey. What if he was saying goodbye last night?” she whispers.

I go rigid, and her arms cinch around me.

No. Not possible. No way.

“No he wasn’t. He’s fine. He has to be fine.”

Fuck!

“I’m going to call the front desk and see if they can give me any information. Callie, it’s going to be fine. I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

Do I believe that? I have to.

I circle the couch to get to the room phone. My hands are shaking as I dial the front desk. Logic is telling me we’re overreacting. There are a thousand reasons why Luke wouldn’t be here. But history is telling me something else, and in the human psyche, history usually beats logic.

“Front desk, how may I help you?” a deep voice says.

“Hi, this is Casey Barrett from room 403. We’re trying to get in touch with Luke and are wondering if he mentioned where he was headed this morning on his way out.”

“Good morning, Mr. Barrett. I just started my shift, but I can ask the staff who were in the lobby this morning. Do you mind holding?”

“Sure, yeah, I can wait.”

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