Page 145 of Cinder
“Hey.”
“Hey,” she says, and I hear a carefulness that makes my shoulders go tight before she even gets to the point. “Don’t panic.”
My grip tightens automatically. “I’m not panicking.”
Yet.
“I might be wrong,” she says quickly. “But I just left Flora’s, and I swear I just saw Stacey.”
That name lands like a drop in cold water. For a second, everything inside me goes very still.
“Where?” My voice comes out even.
“Across the street, near the old pharmacy. She ducked into that dingy motel parking lot. I didn’t get close enough to be sure, but—”
“But you’re sure,” I finish.
“I think so.”
I close my eyes.
“How long ago?”
“Five minutes.”
“She see you?”
“I don’t think so.”
I nod, even though she can’t see it. “Okay. Thanks for calling.”
“I figured you’d wanna know.”
“Yeah,” I say. “I do.”
I hang up and stand there for a second, receiver still in my hand. Colt’s still on his feet, Ghost’s watching me without blinking, and Fletch’s mouth is hanging open.
Beck steps back inside from the bay, wiping grease from his hands. His eyes move between the crew, then settle on me.
“What’s happened?”
“Remi thinks she saw Stacey,” I say.
Colt swears under his breath, and Ghost and Fletch look at each other, but Beck doesn’t react outwardly, apart from his eyes sharpening.
“She’s here?” Fletch says. “In town?”
“Maybe.”
“That’s not a maybe,” Ghost mutters. “If Remi saw her, she’s here.”
I swallow thickly, because I agree. Remi’s not the type to make calls like that unless she’s absolutely sure. I pull my phone from my pocket.
Me:Where are you? Is Elle with you?
Penny:At home. Elle’s in the backyard with Gus. Everything okay?
I exhale slowly through my nose, the room already feeling smaller than it did five minutes ago.
