Page 211 of Ranger's Wildflower

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“Ace—hold—don’t touch anything.”

Too late.

My pulse spikes.

“Why?” I ask.

Blaze’s voice is tight.

“Because someone accessed the shop’s back system about twenty minutes ago.”

Silence.

Cold.

Sharp.

My heart starts pounding.

“They were here,” I whisper.

Ace’s grip tightens slightly.

“Yeah.”

And then—

The phone on the counter rings.

Loud.

Sharp.

Cutting through everything.

I freeze.

So does Ace.

The ringing echoes in the small space.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Ace slowly reaches for it.

Answers.

Silence on the other end.

Then—

A voice.

Calm.

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