Page 48 of Shattered Silence Duet

“None of the known victims were missing long enough to be held somewhere,” Ben adds.

“I don’t think what we found tells us anything more than what we already knew. We’re still just speculating at this point,” I say with a sigh as I lean back in my seat.

“We should ask her,” Max says, still staring at the floor.

“What?” Tucker asks.

Max looks up, making eye contact with each of us before he continues. “We should just ask her who that guy is and why her bag was in the basement.”

“Max,” I start, “we can’t let her know who we are. What if she’s involved in some way?”

He literally growls at me. My eyes widen, I’ve never heard that sound come from him before. “Dom, she’s NOT involved.”

“I don’t think she is either, but she’s probably connected in some way, and we don’t want to spook her,” I tell him.

“What if she needs our help?” Ben asks through the phone. “What if she’s not involved but is seeing it going on around her, and they’ve threatened her not to tell? She might have nobody to talk to and be terrified.”

Everyone goes quiet as we stare at the phone in thought.

I sigh, scrubbing a hand down my face as I admit, “I don’t know what to do.”

Chapter 32

Gideon

“Idon’t know what to do.” The room goes quiet at Dom’s statement. He always knows what to do. It’s instinctual; he always knows the best course of action. This girl has us all experiencing emotions we haven’t felt in a long time.

I’m not the leader of our team, Dom is. But the fact remains that wearea team. That means we help each other out, and when one of us is floundering, the others help him get back in the game. I can see Dom starting to panic, and it falls to me to keep him, and this team, together.

Being brought up by strict British parents gives me the ability to compartmentalize my emotions so I can focus on the task in front of us. I’m not going to let my emotions get the best of me, not again.

“Okay, I have a suggestion,” I tell them. “Why don’t we keep a team on the house twenty-four-seven, while we all keep trying to get closer to her over text or in person, however we can? See if you can naturally work in questions that will help the case. The second she tells you something, send it to the group chat so we don’t all ask her the same thing and cause her to get suspicious. Let’s give it a week and reassess next weekend.”

Dom gives me a grateful smile. “Yeah, I like it. Good plan, Gideon.” I nod, and everyone agrees.

“At least we know she’s okay right now, since she texted us,” Ben adds. I nod. We were all pleased to get her texts, which came through within five minutes of Dom and Atlas leaving her house.

It’s getting late, but I can’t help but look back over our conversation from earlier tonight.

Me:Are you alright? I haven’t heard from you all day.

Mina:Hi. Sorry, I was busy today. Not ignoring you.

Me:Are you alright?

Mina:Yes. Eating chips and talking with you

Me:Almost sounds like a date.

Mina:Is that what you normally feed your dates? Chips? Or do you call them crisps?

Me:Would you prefer cookies?

Mina:Always. Cookies are the superior snack.

Me:I’ll keep that in mind for our next date.

Mina:I don’t think you’re allowed to date your students.