Dark Secret - Avelyn Paige Page 0,25

already starting to flush from the alcohol. “Have you had a chance to see Wyatt since Shelby’s been around?”

“They came to my office yesterday. It didn’t exactly go well.”

Lorna grins. “You two always were like oil and water.”

Kasey laughs. “Yeah, it didn’t take him long to throw a tantrum and run out in a huff.”

Lorna mulls that over as she finishes her drink. When it’s empty, she sets the tumbler on the counter and leans forward. “But did you get a load of his tush as he walked away?” She wags her eyebrows at us. “That boy has grown up to be quite a man. I’d happily oil him up for a fight.”

I gape at my stepmother, setting my glass next to hers. “I think I’m gonna need more of that moonshine.”

Hashtag

The last twenty-four hours have ticked by slowly with no news from Kasey, and radio silence from Shelby, though the latter is deserving for the way our last conversation went. I was right to be angry after everything she’s done, but I should’ve kept my emotions in check. Hayden’s life is hanging in the balance, and yelling at her mother for our past isn’t going to bring her back.

After my chat with Judge, the tunnel vision I had over Shelby’s betrayal faded away, allowing me to focus only on Hayden. I just have to keep it that way.

For what feels like the hundredth time, I try to locate Hayden’s phone, and for the hundredth time, I get nothing. My head falls into my hands. Nearly a day without sleep is wearing on me. She’s still out there—I know she is. Of all the shit things in my life, whatever higher power is out there wouldn’t take her from me. I have to find her before it’s too late. And until I’ve found her, fuck sleep.

Brushing the weariness from my face, I try again. This time, my screen lights up like the Fourth of July. Fucking bingo! My eyes lock onto the area where her phone is currently active. Austin. She’s here in Austin, not far from a newer strip mall downtown. I push out of my chair and grab my keys before walking out the door.

“Judge!” I yell out.

He steps outside one of the small meeting rooms, with GP and Twat Knot flanking him. “Got something?”

“Yeah. Downtown. Her cell phone’s active.”

“Go,” he orders. “Take these two with you.”

GP and TK look to each other with a nod.

“We’re in, man.”

“You lead, we’ll follow.”

The three of us head out the back door where a row of bikes are lined up behind the clubhouse. I pull my phone and wireless earbuds from my pocket. Putting the earbuds in place, I punch in the address for the strip mall near where her phone pinged a tower, and the directions pop up. I mount my bike, as does GP and Twat Knot, and we ride out of the parking lot toward our destination.

The ride takes roughly fifteen minutes with the construction traffic downtown, and the strip mall comes into view on our left. I find a secluded spot near the far-left side of the buildings and pull off. As I dismount my bike, I scan the area and groups of people milling about. This isn’t going to be easy. Hayden could be anywhere in this crowd.

“What’s the plan?” GP asks.

“Take her picture.” Pulling an image I’d taken from Shelby’s stack out of my back pocket, I hand it over to them. “You two check the businesses, ask the employees if they’ve seen her. I’m going to try to track down her phone signal.”

“Sounds good.” GP and Twat Knot disappear toward the businesses. Watching until they enter the first retail shop, I take my phone from my pocket and pull up the site. It pings again after I enter her number. Still active, and still here.

I consider my options carefully. I could try calling or texting her phone, but if she isn’t in possession of it, it could spook whoever does have it into bolting, taking this opportunity with them. One wrong move and it’s over until if, and when, Kasey can get the records from the game developer.

My phone rings.

“Hello?”

“We may have something,” Twat Knot declares. “Gamer shop near the middle of the mall. Owner says he’s seen Hayden in the last couple of weeks for some gaming competition he was running.”

“On my way.” My feet pound the pavement hard until I reach the store. Once Inside, I quickly scan the room. The shelves