Page 173 of The Illicit Play

The longer I drive around Nolan, the worse I feel. I’ve hit up all the usual party spots and shoved my way through crowds, calling her name and showing her picture to people who had no idea who she was.

“Haven’t seen her.”

“Nope.”

“Who’s she?”

By the time I leave my third party, I am beyond frustrated.

Zander calls me with his latest update as I slam back into my Jeep.

“Tyrell and I have walked around campus. There’s no sign of her. Carson and Nylah didn’t see her in Offside; they even checked the bathrooms. Satch and Wily said the library is closed already and they didn’t see her around it… and Sienna’s searched the house from top to bottom. She’s not here, man.” Zander sighs. “Fuck, I don’t even know if she’s in Nolan anymore. But we’ll drive past that all-night diner on Main before heading back to Football Frat.”

“Unless you think there’s somewhere else we should check,” Tyrell calls out.

I shake my head, irritation sizzling through me as I stay parked alongside the curb and slam the steering wheel. “Fuck!”

“I know. I’m sorry, brah.”

Closing my eyes, I end the call and rest my forehead against the wheel. Where the hell could she be?

Maybe she didn’t leave the hospital. Could she be hiding out in that massive building?

Then why’d she leave the note?

And Wily’s truck is missing. She’s taken his truck, and she’s gone somewhere.

Shit! Why would she just take off?

“Think, dammit!”

Starting the engine, I head for the hospital, for no other reason than I don’t know what else to do.

“Siri, call St. Vincent’s Memorial Hospital.”

My phone does as it’s told, and I get through to reception faster than I thought I would.

“St. Vincent’s emergency room. How may I help you?”

“Yeah, hi. I was there earlier this evening and my… girlfriend… had to leave early. She left me my car keys and a note. Do you remember that?”

There’s a pause, and I can feel the woman’s confusion before she slowly answers me. “I’m sorry, sir, but my shift only started three hours ago. What time was this?”

“Uh…” I glance at my watch. “Yeah, shit, it would have been way before that.”

“I’m just looking around my desk, and I can’t see a note or car keys.”

“No, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it.” I hang up after a quick goodbye and slam my wheel again, pausing at a red light and forcing myself to stop being so fucking emotional and use my logical brain.

I tap my finger on the wheel as I try to go back to the beginning and run things through.

We got to the hospital. She was with me.

I had to deal with Mac, then Teah’s parents and… she must have walked out at some point during that exchange. The last time I remember seeing her was when she touched my shoulder and told me to let Mac go. Then security came, Mrs. Wilson was crying, and she wanted me to go see Teah.

Blake must have walked to reception, given them my keys and the note.

As soon as I make it through the intersection, I pull over and scramble to tug the note out of my pocket.