Page 119 of Levi

I know what he’s saying.

When. Not if.

I repeat the mantra in my head over and over again before responding.

Levi:I will.

Linc:Catch you later.

As I end the call, my eyes lift to the action ahead.

Linc wasn’t joking.

Even with the warning, I’m baffled by what I see. Swirling blue and white lights slice the sky.

What the hell?

An army of police forms a wall, blocking the area. Ambulances are standing by. It’s a chilling scene straight out of a crime drama TV show. There are a few passersby, but not many. It’s no surprise at this late time.

I dial Jules again.

Still nothing.

Shit.

A cop directs the chauffeur, forcing us to make a right.

Shit.

The detour is excruciating, and I curse under my breath. We inch down a street lined with cars. The police presence is more prominent as we approach the area where Jules’s office-slash-warehouse is located. The garlands of yellow and black police barricade tape paint a disturbing picture.

What in God’s name happened?

There’s no crime free zone in LA, but Culver City isn’t usually subject to this level of anarchy.

Goddammit.

I need to get to her.

My impatience boils over. “This is taking way too long,” I tell the driver. “At this rate, we’ll never get there.”

“I’m really sorry, sir.”

“This isn’t your fault,” I assure him. “It’ll be faster if I walk.”

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“Yes.”

I drop a wad of cash on the passenger seat and get out of the car. I hurry, dialing Jules’s one more time.

Dread grips my throat, as fear sets in my heart when she doesn’t answer. Again.

As I make my way to her warehouse, I take in the scene surrounding me, baffled. Two cars are fused together. One of them rear-ended the other, full force. The one with all the bullet holes looks like a cheese grater. There’s shattered glass everywhere. And then there’s the pool of blood. It’s gruesome.

I avert my gaze when two EMTs pushing a stretcher pass me by. It’s carrying what I can only assume is a dead body, covered with a bloody sheet.

Dear God.