Page 100

NINETY-SIX

“IT KICKS OFF A range from the cell-tower ping, an approximate area,” Blair says into the phone. “It would — just tell me where you are, Silas. Find some address and tell me where exactly you are.”

Blair, pulled over on the side of I-57, listens as Silas reads him a street address.

“Shit, you’re right in the range!” he says. “She’s right there around you somewhere, within, like, a six-block radius!”

“Okay, but where?”

“I don’t know — you’re on a busy street. There can’t be that much commerce. It’s not Chicago —”

“Right. I’m on the busiest street around here. By far.”

“Good. Then tell me what you see.”

“Shit, you want me to — okay. A laundromat, a Chinese restaurant, a yoga place, a something, I don’t know, whatever ‘screens and beans’ stands for —”

“Wait!” Blair shouts. “Screens and beans? That’s gotta mean — is that one of those internet places? Computers and coffee?”

“Fuck if I know.”

“Go check it out. Now!”

Why didn’t Blair think of that before? She wants access to a computer. She can’t use her phone — she’s had it off this whole time, other than the forty-five seconds she used it for some reason. So she’s using a computer. Email?

“Okay, I double-parked, and I’m heading over.”

“Remember what I said, Silas — money first.”

This feels promising. This could be it. Blair’s phone buzzes. Another call. Kyle. “Hold the line, be right back,” he tells Silas.

He hits a button to connect the second call. “Yes, Kyle.”

“I found the kids. They were with Camille. She was leaving the parking garage, but we stopped her.”

Blair pumps his fist in the air. Thank Christ. “Did she say where they were going?”

“No. She clearly doesn’t want to tell me. She was very upset that I stopped her.”

“Okay, but you have them.”

“I just took them to the station. We’re holding them there in protective custody. And nobody’s moving them — including you, Blair — until I know what’s going on.”

He feels relief flood through him. The kids are stashed away. Marcie can’t run now.

“Totally understood, Kyle. I gotta go.” He kills the call, flipping back over to Silas. “Anything?” he asks.

“I’m on her,” Silas whispers. “I fucking see her.”

Blair pounds the steering wheel. They’ve got this back under control.

Feel the walls closing in, Marcie? You’re not going anywhere.