“This is Levi.”
“Levi, it’s Saul.”
Those three words knocked away the rest of my sleep and I jackknifed up to a sitting position, eyes wide open in the pitch-black bedroom. “Saul. What’s up?” Even before he answered, I knew what he was going to say. I knew.
He let out that same worried sigh I’d heard so many times over the years. “Lacey and Carlton, they’re missing. We’re coming up on the third check-in that’s come and gone without a word.”
“Shit.” The word came out scratchy as I pinched the bridge of my nose. “What was the last news you heard?” I listened carefully as Saul caught me up.
“I talked to Lacey just before they left. She was excited and nervous about the trip.” And now she was in trouble, lost and out of contact.
“Carlton hinted she might be important to you and since this is the first time in all the years I’ve known you that you handed off a story. I figured she must be very special, and I wanted you to know.”
“Thanks Saul, I appreciate it. I’ll pass the word on to her family.” Shit, her family. Lacey’s brothers were out of town and Stevie was with her father, which only left Pippa and GG.
“I’ll keep you in the loop, and if you hear from them before I do...”
I nodded. “You’ll be my first call.”
“All right. I’m doing my thing,” Saul assured me and ended the call.
I don’t know how long I sat on the bed staring off into space, but I sat there with my feet hanging over the edge until they fell asleep. I shook my legs until the feeling returned, and then I moved into action. My first call was to Pippa.
“This better be good,” she growled into the phone.
“It’s Levi, and it’s not good. I’m coming to pick you up. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
Silence on the other end of the call lasted so long I thought she’d fallen asleep again. “All right. I’ll be ready.”
“Thanks.” I ended the call and let out a long breath before I looked at the door. I’d stayed at Michelle’s tonight since she was on the overnight shift for her surgical rounds. Well, the truth was that she was on the around-the-clock shift.
I had to wake Mickey and it was the middle of the night. He would be a cranky monster come tomorrow, but this had to be done. I crept to his room and went inside, watched his sleeping frame, so small, trusting and innocent. “Hey Buddy, we have to go out on a late-night adventure.”
Mickey blinked up at me, a half-smile forming on his lips. “Adventure? Really?”
I nodded. “Yep. Grab your sweats and let’s get going.”
“All right!” And just like that, my grandson was on his feet and digging through his dirty hamper like a mad man, tossing clothes out over both shoulders.
“Hey Mickey, how about some clean sweats kiddo?”
“Oh. Yeah.” He giggled as he walked quickly to his tiny race car themed dresser and pulled out a pair of sweatpants with a matching shirt. “Ready.”
“All right kiddo, let’s get going.” I got Mickey settled in the backseat and headed towards Pippa’s.
“Where are we going Grandpa?”
“I have to go talk to Lacey’s family about some things.”
He frowned form his car seat. “Is Lacey all right?”
“I don’t know yet. She’s been out of contact for a few days so right now let’s just say she’s okay.”
“She is,” he sang. “Miss Lacey is good at stuff.”
She was, but nobody but the locals and guerrillas were strong enough to brave the wilds of Venezuela. Pippa was waiting on the porch when I pulled up to her place, brows furrowed and lips pinched in a tight line.
“What’s going on Levi?”
“I’d rather not have to say this twice, but I need you to come to CCDJ offices with me. And I’m really sorry to wake you up so late, but I didn’t know who else to call.”
“I’m family, you did the right thing.” She turned to offer Mickey a smile. “Hey Champ, how’s it going?”
“Good, Miss Pippa. How’s your baby?”
She smiled. “Still cooking. Should be ready in a week or two.”
Mickey giggled again. “You can’t cook a baby, you’ll go to jail.”
“Okay, well the baby is still growing and won’t be coming out to meet us until all the baby growth is done.” She turned back and sank against the seat. “Any day now, I hope.”
Silence fell over the car except for the sound of Mickey humming to himself.
“Oh my goodness, I can’t take it Levi. Tell me what’s going on. Please.”
“Wait until we get to CCDJ, GG will be there.” The old man probably wouldn’t take the news well, but my only concern was delivering the news.
“Lacey,” she whispered softly. “Is she all right? Just nod or blink or something for yes or no.”