Page 113 of Symphony for Lies

“Amelia,” he began; his firm voice was edged with concern that made me feel guilty.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “I never thought I’d actually find him.”

Spencer rubbed his temples. “Let me get this straight. You thought the bridge by River Street was a lead, but when you didn’t find anything, you decided not to call me?”

I nodded.

“Alright… And what exactly made you go to the school?”

I explained my thought process, tracing every desperate clue. I felt ridiculous. Saying it out loud made it sound absurd, like the ramblings of someone trying to piece together a dream.

Spencer’s jaw tensed the longer I spoke, and by the time I finished, he just stared at me.

Heat crept up my neck.

I should’ve told him. If Spencer had been involved, the whole thing would have been handled more strategically and safely.

“I wasn’t trying to be a hero,” I admitted, my voice shaking. “I just… I didn’t want to burden anyone. My mind has been all over the place lately, and I never actually thought I’d—”

“You saved his life,” Spencer cut in. “But next time, you must be more careful. Tonight, it worked out. But it could’ve ended very differently.”

I nodded.

“Good.” He glanced over my shoulder. “Now, go deal with Mr. Cole. He’s been staring at me like he wants to kill me for the past few minutes.”

I almost laughed, thinking it was a joke. When I turned around and looked at Zane,he was sitting in the back of the ambulance with a paramedic tending to the cut on his forehead, but his eyes were on me.

His face was cast in shadow, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the tension in every sharp angle of his features. He looked furious.

“Amelia…” Spencer’s voice brought me back from my musings. “The person who took him is still out there.”

I knew the truth of that, but hearing him speak aloud my fear sent a fresh wave of unease through me.

“There’s no solid evidence that Mr. Lane was involved. Be careful.”

I nodded.

He sent me one last glance before walking off to join the other officers.

My friends descended on me like a storm. Layla latched onto my arm, and Stacy stood in front of me, waving the gun Zane had dropped on the ground.

“Blanks!” she shrieked, her eyes blazing with disbelief. “I should’ve given you a damn taser instead!”

Tiana shot her a sharp glare. “Better yet, she shouldn’t have gone at all!”

It was only then that I realized what they were wearing.

All of them were in pajamas.

Tiana had her silk bonnet on, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Stacy’s hair was held back by a pink headband, with remnants of a dried face mask still visible on her cheeks. And instead of her hijab, Layla had wrapped a bedsheet around her head and shoulders.

A painful warmth spread through my chest. I had scared them.

“I’m so sorry.”

Tiana sniffled, “You know, traditionally, it’s the guy who’s supposed to rescue the girl, not the other way around!”

Layla buried her face in my shoulder, her body trembling. “You have no idea how scared we were after receiving such a message!”