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She took several steps backward, then fled, closing the door behind her.

He pressed his fists against his temples. An urge to hit more things filled him. He justknewCandace Kim had a way to contact Ethan Sinclair and wasn’t sharing. It infuriated him no end that she stood between him and the success of his operation.

She was hiding something. He hadn’t seen the last few communications between them before Sinclair went dark. When he inquired about them, Candace had told him that they were routine. He doubted that. That woman might not have an ounce of operational sense, but she was crafty.

She was up to something.

He couldn’t ignore the irony of his situation. As soon as he had Sinclair’s wife, he had the perfect leverage to bring him in. But how useful was it if he couldn’t contact Sinclair to let him know?

Calm down. Think.

He had to ensure that Sinclair would come in, but to him and him only. That was a crucial piece of the plan. If Candace Kim wouldn’t help him get that message to Sinclair, he’d have to find another way to deliver it.

Then, just like that, it came to him.

The daughter was the key.

Chapter Ten

ANGEL SINCLAIR

We aren’t allowed to have cell phones during class, so Friday after lunch, Frankie and I headed back our room to get the books for our afternoon classes. While there, I did a cursory check on my phone and saw I had a message. My mom had called me from her work at the pharmacy. Oddly, she’d used the pharmacy number instead of her cell, but I figured she must have forgotten her cell at home. I pulled up the voice mail and listened.

To my surprise, it wasn’t my mom who had left the message. It was Shawna Morgan, my mom’s coworker.

Hi, Angel, I’m sorry to bother you, but your mom didn’t show up for work this morning. I tried calling her several times on her cell, but she’s not answering or returning my messages or texts. I tried your sister Gwen’s phone, but she isn’t picking up, either. Do you know what’s going on? Is she okay?

I punched in the number for my mom’s cell, but it went straight to voice mail. Another oddity. My mom was obsessed with keeping her cell charged and with her at all times, mostly so she could be available to Gwen and me at any moment. A mom thing, I guess.

My concern rose. I called the pharmacy, and Shawna picked up after a few rings.

“Hey, Shawna. This is Angel. I got your message. How are you?”

“I’m fine. I’m just worried about your mom. Were you able to reach her?”

“Not yet, but I’ll keep trying. Maybe she dropped her phone in the sink or something.” It was a stretch, and I knew that wouldn’t have kept her from work, but that was all I had at the moment.

“I tried to call Gwen, but it went to voice mail and she hasn’t called me back, either.”

“Well, Gwen’s in Brazil, so she probably can’t get calls or has trouble getting them. But I don’t know why Mom wouldn’t be answering.” I thought back to the last time I’d talked to her. We’d texted on Tuesday, three days ago.

“Well, I’m covering for her today, so it’s okay, but this isn’t like your mom at all,” Shawna continued. “I thought maybe you knew something I didn’t.”

“I don’t. But give me more time to reach her, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” I hung up and start to pace the room.

“Who was that?” Frankie asked.

“My mom’s coworker.” I tapped the phone to call my mom again. “My mom missed work and isn’t answering her phone. I’m worried.”

“Maybe she overslept,” Frankie offered.

“For four hours?” The phone went straight to voice mail again, but this time I left a message. “Mom, it’s me, Angel. Can you call me as soon as possible? It’s really important.”

I hung up and looked at Frankie. “I have to go home.”

“Right now?” Frankie said, looking at me in alarm. “What about class?”

“I’m skipping. But I have to go now. It’s an emergency.”