Page 50 of A Bloody Merry Christmas
She stared for a moment. “Yes, he is,” she said.
I massaged the back of my neck, kneading the muscles there as I looked around at the break area, taking in the glass walls that gave me a glimpse of the snow falling outside.
“Let me think about how to do this,” I signed to Bee.
She pursed her lips and shrugged. “Up to you. Let me know what you decide. You know my feelings. How is Ezra?”
I smiled as I started signing about all the things we had planned while I had a week off. By the time I was done, she looked exasperated but was still grinning. We said our goodbyes.
I rolled my neck and went to rise when my phone buzzed. Annabella’s name flashed on the screen, and I frowned. She never called me, especially when I was at work. We usually messaged each other because she knew I couldn’t speak to her over a call.
I answered anyway and placed the phone to my ear.
“Sam?” Annabella’s frazzled tone had my spine tensing. “If this is you, make a noise.”
I grunted.
“I need you to listen. I’m calling you because Eleanor asked me to. She was worried and you know she can’t use her cell very well.” There was chatter in the background and I heardAnnabella shush Eleanor. “Something’s happened to Ezra. A man came and dragged Ezra out of the house.”
I jumped to my feet, surging forward before my brain could even comprehend her words. I moved fast, going for the stairs to get back up to my work floor and grab my keys from my desk.
“Ezra was trying to be calm, but Eleanor said he didn’t sound right.”
“He didn’t,” Eleanor snapped in the background. “He said it was his uncle, Sam, but that man was a mean son of a...well, just mean.”
I bumped into someone and held up my hand in apology as I kept moving, darting around my colleagues.
“Eleanor was adamant about telling you. Do you need me to call the police?” Annabella asked.
“No,” the word came out strangled and a fiery pain scraped at my throat.
“Okay.” Annabella sounded unsure. “Should I do anything?”
“No,” I said again, the misery worth it.
“Very well. Um, goodbye, Sam.”
I ended the call as I reached my desk. Louisa swiveled in her chair, mouth open to speak, but paused when she saw me.
“Sam, what’s wrong?”
I didn’t answer. I grabbed my keys and wallet and left.
“Where are you going?” Louisa shouted after me, but I was on a mission. I had to call Bee and Dalton, and I had to get Ezra back.
I messaged “911” to Bee. Within moments, she video called, but I didn’t answer until I got into my car so I could sign.
“What’s wrong?” Bee asked immediately.
“His uncle has him. Annabella called. That asshole has him.” Dread iced my veins and desperation to get to Ezra pounded pressure down on my chest. I itched to drive, to get to him, but I knew better. I’d seen too much shit. I needed to trust Bee to help.
“I’ll meet you at his uncle’s house. I’ll send you the address now in our code. Don’t do anything stupid. Wait until I get there.” She rose from wherever she was sitting and ran.
I didn’t need her to tell me twice.
My hands shook as I hit the ignition and began to drive. Her message came through to my car, and I decoded it with a cypher we’d come up with a few years ago for when we had no other choice butto use the phone to send incriminating texts. Thankfully I was familiar with the address. I’d lived my entire life in New Gothenburg and some areas were known, especially when there was a lot of crime there. The suburb Gary lived in was a hotspot for domestic abuse.
I slammed my foot down on the accelerator as soon as the light turned green.
