I hit the “call” button after I highlighted that number.

A woman’s cool voice answered.

“I need to talk to Brom,” I said quickly. “This is Harley. Harley Barton-Ash. He’ll know who I am.”

After a few perceptible clicks, Brom’s voice came online.

“Harley! Are you alright?” he asked in a worried voice. He was almost shouting.

“Yes, I am,” I answered. Before he could say anything I added, “But I haven’t been able to get a hold of Jack… what’s going on?”

“No time to explain. Something’s about to happen,” he answered. “I can’t talk now. Stay put and don’t move from where you are. I’ll call you later with an update.”

He hung up as I was protesting, “But that’s what Jack told me earlier …”

F&*(^%$#k!!! I screamed into a pillow.

Something was happening even now, probably. Something dangerous?

I broke out into a cold sweat, still holding on to the pillow, and paced around the room. His instructions rang in my ears, Stay put. Don’t move from where you are.

I screamed obscenities again into the soft pillow I’d grabbed earlier.

I needed to fling something to take my frustrations out even further, and was about to hurl the phone, but stopped at the last second. I threw the poor pillow at the headboard with all my might. It landed harmlessly against the leather headboard and slid down.

I took several deep breaths and blew them out.

Think, Harley. What are your options?

Even if I dared to defy Brom’s instructions, I couldn’t leave at this hour and drive to Vegas. It was pitch black outside and I was unfamiliar with the roads. If something happened, I would be at the mercy of an unforgiving desert.

But the desert sun rose early, and I could probably head out in about five hours or before dawn broke.

Would it be too late then?

I pushed that thought away and decided to get busy. I started to pack a small bag and remembered that Philip had left the cooler here. I rummaged around it and stowed drinks and sodas that he’d left in it in the fridge to keep them cold.

Get some sleep.

Thirty minutes later, I called Jack again. Still no answer. So I tried the number that had reached Brom, eventually.