Page 5 of Once Vanished
“Slow down,” Riley said, rising to her feet without realizing it.The other agents watched her, suddenly alert.“What happened to Jilly?”
Gabriela’s voice broke into sobs.“He took her.I had the gun.I couldn’t shoot because of how he held her in front of him.I call police already.”
Riley’s world narrowed to a pinpoint, all peripheral sound and sight fading to a dull roar.Bill was on his feet beside her, his hand at her elbow, steadying her.
“Gabriela, listen to me,” Riley said, fighting to keep her voice level.“Don’t touch anything else.The police are on their way?”
“Sí, they come now.I hear sirens.”
“I’m on my way home.Right now.”She ended the call and looked at the three men staring at her.“He’s taken Jilly,” she said to them.
No one asked who “he” was.They all knew.
CHAPTER TWO
The world around Riley seemed to blur at the edges, details fading except for the essential task in her mind: get to Jilly.Without taking time for additional explanation, she and Bill both got to their feet and headed for Meredith’s office door.
“My team will meet you there,” Hogue said.
Meredith’s voice followed them into the hallway.“We’ll find her, Paige.We’ll find them both.”
“He won’t hurt her yet,” Riley told Bill as they hurried through the building toward the parking lot.“He wants me to suffer first.”
When they reached their car, Bill extended his hand, “Keys.I’m driving.”
“I can drive,” Riley insisted, but her hands were trembling, adrenaline coursing through her veins.
“Not this time.”Bill’s voice was firm.“Get in.”
She relented, sliding into the passenger seat.“I need to call Ann Marie,” she said, pulling out her phone as they left Quantico.“And April.God, April—”
“One thing at a time,” Bill said, his eyes fixed on the road as he drove out of the BAU lot.“Call April first.”
Riley dialed April’s number.It seemed to ring much longer than usual.“Mom?”April finally answered, sounding carefree.“What’s up?”
Riley closed her eyes briefly, steeling herself.“April, listen to me very carefully.I need you to go back to your dorm room right now and stay there.”
“Why?What’s going on?”
“Leo Dillard has taken Jilly.”Riley forced herself to say the words clearly.“The police are at the house, and Bill and I are on our way there now.”
A soft gasp echoed through the line.“Oh my God.How?When?”
“I don’t know all the details yet.Bill will come to campus as soon as he can to bring you home.”Riley glanced at Bill, who nodded in understanding.
“I should be there now,” April protested, her voice rising in pitch.“I should—”
“No,” Riley said firmly.“The best way you can help right now is to stay safe.Please, April.I can’t worry about both of you.”
A moment of silence, then: “Okay.I’m heading back to my room now.Text me when you know more?”
“I will.Love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.And...we’ll find her, right?”
The hope in April’s voice nearly broke Riley.“Yes.We will.”
As Bill accelerated onto the highway, his eyes fixed on the road, Riley found the number for her young partner, Ann Marie Esmer, and pressed the call button.