Page 162 of The Drummer

Callie’s intense gaze is locked on me, pleading for an update.

“They’re going to ask the lobby employees if any of them saw or spoke to him,” I say.

Her teeth sink into her lip. My knee bounces against the edge of the couch.

“Mr. Barrett? Are you still there?”

I stiffen back to attention. “Yeah, I’m here.”

“Excellent. I Just spoke to Reggie who’s been at the door since six. No one could have left without him noticing. He said Luke left the building about an hour ago… carrying an old chair.”

“Wait, what? Really. Did he say where he was going or what he was doing?”

“No, he didn’t. Reggie made a joke about the chair, but Luke just smiled and kept walking.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“Would you like me to check with anyone else? I can keep looking into it.”

“Um, no, that’s okay. Thanks for your help.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

I hang up, feeling numb. What the hell is going on?

I turn to Callie, more confused than before.

“What is it?” she asks in a strained voice

I clear my throat, not sure where to begin. “They said they saw him leave about an hour ago carrying an old chair. He didn’t talk to anyone.”

She freezes, then bolts down the hall. I run after her and stop when I find her staring in horror. Scanning the room from over her shoulder, my blood goes cold when I spot the empty corner.

“It’s gone,” she whispers.

Her chest moves in a sharp inhale. Then another. And another. Soon, the empty room echoes with her tears.

“Callie…” I say softly. My own voice is raw and weak.

She twists around and falls into my arms.

I wrap her tight, for my own sake as much as hers.

My world feels like it’s rocking out of control. I’m still not sure what’s going on, let alone what to do next. Callie must have theories to react the way she is, but she’s too upset to share them at the moment.

We need to calm down. Regroup. Come up with?—

A loud clatter fires down the hall.

Callie shoots up straight, and our gazes lock for a split second before we take off in the direction of the noise.

Luke stares at us in bewilderment when we launch ourselves at him. I don’t even notice the stuff he’s holding until he almost drops it.

“What’s this?” he asks through a soft laugh.

I don’t know how to answer that. I just know that nothing seems as important as holding onto these two people right now.

“You were gone,” Callie murmurs. “We were so scared.”

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