A short pause. “It’s illegal.”

“I didn’t ask if it’s legal. I asked if you could do it.”

He sighs. “Yeah. But I don’t want to get in troub—”

“Listen to me, Nick. The piece of shit has her, I know it. And I need to find her. I’m on my way to the police, but if there’s a faster way to get to her, I have to do it. I have to.”

There’s a brief pause. “Okay.”

Relief crashes through me. “Thank you. I’ll make it worth your while, I promise.”

After a few swipes over the keyboard, Nick gives me their current location and Stan punches it into GoogleMaps.

“Looks like he’s headed for the Mexican border. I can’t be sure what he’s driving, but there’s a white Ford van registered to him. I’ll text you the license plate. And I’ll keep you posted if he changes direction or anything.”

“Okay. And call the police, will you?”

“Will do.”

I hang up, but my fingers are still clenched around my cell. I’m coming for you, Elli. I’ll rescue you. Because if I don’t—

“Faster, Stan. We have to go faster.”