Page 143 of Whispers

“Where’d he go?”

“I don’t know. We had an argument and . . . and . . .” Pull yourself together, Claire! “And he took off. I thought he’d go somewhere and cool off, you know, once he’d sorted things out, he’d be back. That’s the way it usually works.”

But nothing’s been usual since you came back to Oregon. She glanced out the window, couldn’t see past the murky fog.

“What was the argument about?”

She hesitated. Gathered herself. “I told him the truth about you. That you’re his father.”

“And I take it he wasn’t thrilled at the prospect.”

She snorted. “Not thrilled at all.”

“Where would he go?”

“I don’t know. I waited a couple of hours and then drove around.” She bit her lip and moved her finger along the edge of the counter. “I went to a couple of places where kids hang out and then called three boys he’s mentioned since we moved here, but I couldn’t find him and if the boys know where he is, they’re not saying.”

“It hasn’t been that long.” But there was something in his voice, something he wasn’t saying.

“I know,” she said as she heard a beep stutter on the handset. “Another call is coming in. I’d better take it. It might be Sean.”

“I’m on the road, only twenty minutes away. I’ll be right over. Stay put,” Kane said and hung up.

Claire took the call that was waiting. “Hello?”

“Claire?” Tessa’s voice sounded far away and frightened.

“Where are you?”

“Sean’s with me.”

“You found him? Good. Bring him home.” She glanced at the clock. “We can still make the party if we push it—”

“I’m not going.”

“Why not?” Dread skittered through Claire’s heart. “Wait a minute. Let me talk to Sean.”

“I can’t.” Was Tessa’s voice slurred?

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because it’s too late, Claire. It’s too late for us all.”

“Wait a minute, Tessa. Where are you? Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you.”

Click. The line went dead.

Claire was left standing in the kitchen, staring out the window at the shifting shadows. Tessa had Sean, they were together. Tessa had killed Harley. Tessa sounded desperate on the phone—different. Dear God, what was she planning to do?

Quickly she picked up the phone again and dialed Kane’s cell. One ring. Two. Three. “Come on, come on,” but his voice mail picked up and she hung up in frustration. He was on his way, hadn’t he said so? Give him time to get here. She needed to calm down, to think clearly. What could she do? Call Miranda. As an assistant DA she had enough connections in the police department to get the help they needed to find Tessa and Sean. Tessa’s Mustang wouldn’t be hard to spot.

Claire punched in the numbers of Miranda’s cell and waited as the phone rang. God, wasn’t anyone answering tonight? One ring. Two. Three. Finally she heard her sister’s voice.

“Hello?”

“Miranda, it’s Claire. You have to help me. Tessa has Sean and—”

“Hello? Hello?” Miranda’s voice crackled over the phone.