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Melissa jerked awake as her phone buzzed from across the room on her dresser, fumbling in her sheets. She kicked off the twisted covers and blinked in the darkness, finally glancing over at her alarm clock on the nightstand.
Three a.m.
She rose and stumbled across the room, picking up her cell phone to see her sister’s name flashing on the screen. Her heart lurched into her throat as she swiped at the phone, blinking at it with blurry eyes, trying to answer the call.
“Becky! What’s wrong? Did they find Brody?” she asked, nearly dropping the phone in her haste.
“They found him! Oh my God, they found him. He’s injured, and they’re airlifting him to a hospital somewhere. I’m still trying to find out more information. But he’s alive, and that’s all that matters right now.”
“Oh my God, that’s unbelievable!” Melissa shrieked. “They seriously found him?”
“Yeah, his commander just called me. I still don’t know what happened. Hopefully they’ll let me fly out there to see him. I don’t even know how long it will be before he can be flown back stateside.”
“So he’s going to be okay?” Melissa asked, breathing a sigh of relief. “Oh my God, this is unbelievable.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know anything about the extent of his injuries. It’s just—after he’s been missing—” She choked up, letting out a relieved sob.
“Becky, oh God. Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, I’ll be fine,” she said, sniffling. “These are happy tears right now, I swear. I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to visit him. I think it’s a military hospital somewhere. I’m just focusing on the good now—the positive. He’s alive, and that’s all that matters. I’ll deal with everything else later.”
Melissa paced back and forth across her bedroom, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. “So who called you? His commander? This is so crazy! He’s been missing for days.”
“I know, I know. I’d totally assumed the worst at this point. Especially with no real updates and—”
Her voice cut off again, and Melissa’s chest clenched. “Understandable. I’m in shock, too.” She sank down onto her bed, clutching her hand to her chest. Her heart was racing, and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She was just so relieved Brody had been found. So in shock over the whole thing. “Let me know when you’re flying out to see him. I want to know details, flight info, everything. And if you need anything at all—plane tickets, hotel reservations, whatever, you let me know.”
“I will. I promise I’ll let you know as soon as I have more information. I just found out a few minutes ago and had to call you right away. God, I’m sorry, I know it’s the middle of the night on the East coast. I just couldn’t wait until morning.”
“It’s fine,” Melissa assured her. “Are you kidding me? Of course I’d want to know right away! I’ve got a slow day tomorrow anyway. I’ve got an open house this weekend and some stuff to prep for, but tomorrow I can sleep in and relax.”
“Okay. Well I’ll let you get back to bed. I just—I just can’t believe it, you know?”
“I do know. Wow. It’s like he’s gotten a second chance or something. Call me the second you find out anything else, promise?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
“I love you,” Melissa said into the phone.
“I love you, too. Goodnight.”
Melissa said goodbye and ended the call, setting the phone right on her nightstand instead of usually where she kept it across the room. She liked to leave it there with her backup alarm, in case she had trouble getting up in the mornings. There was no way she could shut it off without getting up and crossing her bedroom.
But now?
She wanted it beside her to grab immediately. She needed to be able to grab it the instant her sister called again.
Lying back down in her bed, she knew she’d never be able to fall back asleep right away. She was too wound up. Too agitated. Tomorrow morning couldn’t get here soon enough.
***
Melissa pulled into the parking lot of her office at eleven the next morning, a cup of steaming hot coffee in her hand. She shut off the engine and climbed out of her vehicle, clicking the remote to lock her SUV before walking across the lot toward the front door.
Her stilettos clicked on the asphalt, and she caught her reflection in the glass door—long red hair flowing over her wool coat, shapely legs in her sky-high stilettos.
Not bad. If only Tyler were around to see—
“Excuse me!” a man called out.
She glanced over to see a guy of around fifty or so hurrying her way. He was dressed in neat khakis and a button-down shirt, beneath a long wool coat that hung open. His graying hair was slicked back, but he had a warm smile on his face.
“Can I help you?” she asked, pausing.
“I’m wondering if Mary is in the office? She was supposed to show me a property today.”
“Oh,” Melissa said, nodding. “I’m sorry, but she has today off. Maybe you got your times mixed up or something? She’s usually in and out of the office but had an appointment today.”
“Shoot,” the man said, coming closer. He slipped off his sunglasses, his bright blue eyes gazing at her. “I don’t suppose anyone else could show me the property? I’ve got a business trip this afternoon and will be gone for the next week. I don’t want to miss out if this is my chance to get an offer in.”
“I might be able to take you there,” she said, turning toward the door. “Let me give her a call.”
“I’m in kind of a hurry, actually. Is there any chance we could head over there now?”
Melissa glanced back toward him, pressing her mouth together. Rushing off with a client would throw a wrench in her plans for the day. Still, Mary had helped her out occasionally when she had multiple buyers looking to move on a home. She wouldn’t steal the sale from her or anything, just show this man the property before he caught his flight. Then Mary could deal with putting in an offer if that’s what he decided.
“What’s the address?” she asked.
“I have it here in my phone,” he said, flashing her a warm smile as he pulled his cell from his pocket.
Melissa’s phone buzzed in her bag, and she excused herself for a moment, grabbing it. “Are we all set to take the photos later on?” she asked the photographer, praying he wasn’t going to go into one of his lengthy phone chats.
“Yes, I just wanted to confirm the time. And see if you needed me to pick up anything on the way over?”
Melissa resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “No, I’m good. And I’ll meet you there at two as planned. You have the address?”
“Yes, absolutely. I’ll see you then.”
“Do you have an appointment later?” the man asked as she tucked her phone back into her bag. “I don’t want to take up your time if someone’s expecting you.”
“Not until two, so we should have plenty of time. Let me know the address and we can head over to see it.”
“Fantastic.” He recited the address to her, and Melissa pulled her keys back from her bag, taking a sip of her coffee.
“I can drive,” he insisted. “I’ll drop you back off here on my way to the airport.”
“Where are you flying out of?”
“Dulles. We can make this quick, and then I’ll head up to Dulles to catch my flight. My suitcase is already in the trunk. I was hoping to squeeze this in.”
“Understandable,” she said, walking in front of him as he gestured for her to go ahead on the sidewalk. She took another sip of her coffee, mentally tallying the list of things she’d need to do when she returned to the office.
“I’m just around the corner,” he said.
She frowned, wondering why he wouldn’t have parked in the front lot. A few cars sped by on the main road, but a moment later, it was just the two of them walking in front of the building. She paused, beginning to rethink driving with him. She could head over in her SUV, show him the property, and send him on his way.
Call Mary from the car and let her know she was showing the property to her client.
She paused, pulling her phone from her bag, and suddenly the man was right behind her, one arm pinning her arms in place as he pulled her against him. Her coffee fell to the ground, spilling over her stilettos and burning her skin. She let out a small shriek, a foul-smelling cloth covering her nose and mouth, and she struggled, trying to pull away.
“That’s it, darling,” he said, tightening his grip as he pinned her against him. “Breathe deep. There’s nowhere to run.”
She struggled harder, her vision beginning to blur, and he held the cloth to her face. If she could just pull away. Just call 911 or Tyler. Just scream for help.
She sagged against her attacker as the world faded to black.
