Page 132 of Forever Dark
She tried the radio again next.
“Connor, come in.”
Static answered.
“Connor, respond.”
Nothing.
A chill moved through her, thin and precise.
“Selena, is everything okay?”Cheryl’s voice came through the radio from dispatch loud and clear.
“Cheryl, have you heard from Connor?”
A pause.Papers shifting on Cheryl’s desk.
“No.Not since he headed out.”
Selena took the next curve too fast and corrected.“Where did he go?”
Another rustle.Cheryl had probably turned toward the day log.
“He was working interviews, last I knew.He’s probably sleeping in his car.”
Then, faintly away from the phone, Cheryl said, “Good Lord, Arnold, you look exhausted.”
Selena sat up straighter.“Ask Arnold where Connor is.”
There was a muffled exchange.Then Cheryl came back on.
“Hang on.”
The line changed hands.
“Agent Raven?”Arnold sounded wrung out and winded, like he had just come in from the road.
“Arnold, where’s Connor?”
“He was heading to the Rest and Be Thankful Motel to question one of Elias Croft’s employees.”
Selena’s mouth went dry.“Who?”
“Uh…” Paper rustled.“I think it was a guy in the band.Pruitt.”
The name hit like a fist.Jesus… Arnold, Pruitt is the killer!”
“What!?You sure?”Arnold came back.
“Yes!We’ve got to get to Connor and warn him if he’s not there already!”
Arnold’s voice sharpened at once.“Cheryl’s trying him.Hold on.”
Selena heard him say something away from the phone, then Cheryl’s muffled, frantic reply.A second later Arnold came back.
“He’s not answering!”
Something deep in Selena’s gut dropped.
