Gray West Mysteries 1-4 by Anya Mora

Author:Anya Mora [Mora, Anya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-05-15T23:00:00+00:00

24

It’s still dark as I step out of Cory's bunker. The crisp morning air promising a day that is dry. I hope so; clear skies will help with our search. I close the door of the shipping container and run, desperate to get home. I stumble over my feet. My chest pounds, but I need to find Boone, to speak to someone who will listen, because this paper crane means something. The piece of paper in my pocket means Cory Jacobson has her—he must. If the coat wasn't enough, and the barrette wasn't enough, maybe this crane will be.

When I get to my street, I see cops everywhere, and I instantly know that they are looking for me. But then another thought crosses my mind. Maybe it's not about me at all. Maybe they found Ruthie.

I pull my phone from my pocket, wondering if maybe I missed calls, but it's dead. The battery died long ago. I curse myself for being so stupid, for sleeping for so long. As I get up to the house, people seem to notice that I'm running toward them.

“Gray?” Truce says. “Damn, where have you been? We've been worried sick.”

“I know,” I say. “I fell asleep, and my phone died ...” I run my hands over my eyes. “Do you know where Boone is?” I ask. “I need to talk to him.”

“Yeah, he's down at the mobile command unit. Want me to radio him over right now?”

“Yes, please,” I say. “Did I miss anything?” I ask after he finishes radioing Boone. “Something with Ruthie? With Cory, did you guys find anything out? God, I can't believe I slept for so long.”

Olive and Abel walk toward me from the house, bundled up in their coats.

“Mom, where'd you go?” Olive asks. “We've been so worried.”

“MacArthur's pissed,” Abel adds.

“I know. I'm sorry. I fell asleep. I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean to. I know I'm terrible, but ...”

“Hey, it's okay,” Truce says. “You're okay. You're here. You're okay. Your body shut down because you needed to rest. We all get it. Charlie is on her way back now too.” Truce repeats, “It's okay.”

I'm amazed at his ability—the ability of all the police officers—to help me release the foothold of panic that's wound around my chest.

“Okay,” I say, taking a big, deep breath. “You're right. We're okay. I'm okay. Olive, Abel, are you guys okay?”

“We're okay, Mom,” Olive says. She wraps me in her arms, giving me a big tight hug, and I breathe her in. Thankful for her, for this girl of mine to be here holding me steady.

“You guys get some good rest?” I ask them both, and they nod.

“They still haven't found her,” Abel says, walking in a circle.

“I know, but I think I can help. I know it’s got to be Cory,” I say just as Boone jogs down the sidewalk. The streetlamp outside my house casts a glow across him.

“Let's go inside,” I tell everyone. “It's freezing out here.”

Inside, Boone asks where I went.

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