Thankfully, I only spent one night in a jail cell for breaking into Colin’s house—to teach me a lesson, I think—and there was nothing on my record. I didn’t want to think what would happen if I couldn’t get a job and then couldn’t help fund the search. I would have failed her.
One good thing came of Michael arresting me; the police had promised to question Colin. The sleaze was on their radar now. Something was definitely weird about him, and now it was only a matter of time before whatever he was hiding came out.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and started ringing. I swiped it out and answered it immediately. “Hello.”
“Lewis, they’ve got a warrant. They’re going in soon,” Daniel said.
“What?” Finally! “How did they get it?”
“They found him with a box of different phone chargers and women’s clothing. Apparently, he was on his way out somewhere with them. Lucky they turned up to re-question him when they did or that probably would have been gone.”
“Did he have a charger for Summer’s phone?” I whispered into the phone.
“I don’t know. They wouldn’t say.”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. I was getting a headache. “Okay, call me the second you hear something. Anything at all.”
“Of course I will.”
“Thanks,” I said and ended the call. If they didn’t find anything, then I had no idea what to do next. Keep following every lead that fizzled into nothing? “Hello,” the receptionist said. “Are you checking in?”
I debated. Did I stay here and search or go home? “Actually, no. Sorry.” I waved over my shoulder as I jogged back to the parking lot. I had a long drive back—to possibly nothing. But I had to be there in case.
My heart leaped at the thought of seeing her again. I didn’t want to get my hopes up too much; it would crush me all over again if she weren’t found. Please be okay, baby. I’m on my way. Theo had said I was putting too much on Colin, and I was—but I had nothing else.
I tried turning the key in the ignition, but my hands shook so badly it took three tries. Fuck’s sake! Come on! Finally I managed to start the car, and I sped off. The damn car couldn’t go fast enough. I should have never left town. I was so damn stupid.
My phone rang and my heart jumped. “Lewis,” Daniel said. His voice was thick with emotion, as if he had been crying. No!
“Yes,” I whispered and took a deep breath. My world stopped.
“They…they’ve found her. They found her. They have her,” he said, repeating himself in disbelief.
“What? What happened? Where is she? Is she okay?” I questioned. My heart soared. They have her!
“In his house—his cellar. She’s alive, Lewis.” He broke down, sobbing. “She’s alive.”
Was I dreaming? Everything around me was in slow motion. Daniel’s voice seemed too far away, too dreamlike. I had imagined this moment millions of times over and had it felt this unreal. Tears pooled in my eyes, blurring my vision. “Where is she?”
“Hospital. We’re on our way now. She hit her head, but she’s here. She’s here. There was a struggle and she was hurt. I have to go, we’re here now, and I need to be with her. Just get here as soon as you can.”
“Bye,” I muttered and ended the call. His words echoed through my head. She’s here. That was all I had wanted for the past seven months. Now I was in London, fucking hours away. Frustration built up. I hated myself for not being there. I slammed my hand on the steering wheel. “Fuck!” There was a struggle and she was in the hospital. How badly was she injured? She hit her head. A serious hit? She had to be okay. We couldn’t go through over a half a year of hell only for her to die. I needed her.
I felt sick with guilt and wished I were with her already. If she was awake, would she ask for me? What if she hated me for not finding her sooner? I promised I would take care of her. I blew out a deep breath that I didn’t even know I was holding in. She’s okay. I blinked heavily and felt tears roll down my face. Everything was going to be all right now. She’s alive and I would do anything to make it up to her. I was overwhelmed and couldn’t figure out how I felt. Relieved. Scared. Happy. Angry. Ecstatic. Guilty.
I gripped the steering wheel with one hand and wiped my tears away with the other. Whatever happened to her in those seven months would be okay, because she was home. I pushed my foot down on the accelerator.
***
“Where is she?” I demanded of Theo the second I walked through the hospital doors.
“This way,” he replied, jogging beside me.
“Have you seen her?”
“No.”
“Has anyone? She’s okay, right?”
“She’s awake now. Daniel and Dawn are with her. Lewis, before you go in there, Henry wanted to speak to you.”
“What?” I shook my head. What the fuck? I didn’t want a chat with Henry; I wanted to see my girlfriend! “I’m not waiting to speak to him.”