Chapter 36

"Hi, Savannah. What's up?"

"They kidnapped Simon!"

He bolted upright in his bed. "What? Who kidnapped him?"

She described her conversation with Beckett. "Should we call the police?"

He tried to force his brain to function. His mind went back to the time he called 911 to report a burglar in Jess's house—and the man got a warning call a few seconds later. "The last time I called them, someone tipped off Beckett immediately. If that happens now, he might kill Simon."

"Wh-what should we do? He's expecting me any minute."

"You can't go over there alone."

"I don't have any choice! If I don't go, he'll kill Simon."

"Thank you! Are you ready to go?"

***

Though it was nearly one, lights blazed from the windows of Beckett's house. Savannah parked in his driveway and glanced into the shadows before she slid out and shut her car door. Her heart thudded against her ribs. She switched her call with Hez to FaceTime and kept the phone in her hand. The hooting of an owl drowned out the faint sound of her sneakers on the walk to the porch, but Beckett must have seen her headlights because he opened the door and stood waiting for her.

That sounded like Simon. She gave a slight nod for him to continue.

She went past him into the entry and spotted the disarray in the living room. Someone had pulled everything out of the storage spaces under the end tables and left it on the floor.

"That's not true!" She breathed in and out to calm herself. "Jess is no murderer."

"These guys mean business. Let's start by taking your phone to them." He reached toward the hand clutching her iPhone.

"I told you—they wore ski masks."

"I might recognize their clothing or their builds. Something might be familiar."

"You're wasting time, Savannah. The clock is ticking on Simon's life."

She backed away and glanced around for a weapon. Nothing was handy in the living room.

Her mouth went dry. Did they see Hez parked nearby? "What do you mean? I'm here alone."

"You are now. They grabbed Hez too. And you're next."