Dream Lake (Friday Harbor #3)(90)

“Zoë. I’m close by. I’ll be right there.” All he could hear was the broken sound of her crying. He was fiercely glad that she had turned to him for help. “Sweetheart. Did you hear me?”

“Y-yes.”

“Don’t be scared. We’ll find her.”

“I don’t want to call the police. I think she would try to hide from them.” More crying. “She’s had part of a sedative. And tonight she kept talking about you, and s-some guy named Tom, and she wanted me to ask you to bring him. I think she went out looking for you.”

“Okay. I’m less than a minute away from the cottage.”

“I’m sorry,” Zoë choked. “Sorry to bother you, but—”

“I told you to call if you needed something. I meant it.”

He’d meant it even more than he’d realized. Even in these circumstances, talking with Zoë was a relief beyond measure. It was like being able to breathe again. He realized he wasn’t going to be able to walk away from Zoë this time. Something had changed in him, or … no, something had not changed. That was the point. His feelings for Zoë hadn’t changed and never would. She was a part of him. The revelation astonished him, but there was no time to think about it now.

As he drove, he scanned the heavily forested road for any sign of Emma. She couldn’t have gotten far in such a short amount of time, especially not while sedated. The only thing he worried about was the lake being in such proximity. “Zoë,” he said, “have you gone to the waterfront yet?”

“I’m headed there right now.” She sounded calmer now, although she was still sniffling.

“Good. I’m pulling into the driveway. I’m going to check out the woods on the other side of the road and work back to the house. What is she wearing?”

“Light-colored pajamas.”

“We’ll find her soon, sweetheart. I promise.”

“Thank you.” He heard the sound of her unsteady sigh. “You never called me that before.”

She ended the connection before he could answer.

Alex jumped out of the truck and nearly yelped as he came face-to-face with the ghost. “Jesus!”

Tom gave him a sardonic glance. “No, it’s just me.”

“It’s about time you showed up.”

“This has nothing to do with you,” Tom informed him. “I just want to help find Emma. Start calling for her.”

“Emma,” Alex shouted. “Emma, are you out here?” He stopped as he heard the sound of a distant female voice, but he recognized it immediately as Zoë’s. Continuing to search, he went into the woods, periodically calling Emma’s name.

Tom strayed from Alex as far as he could, wandering among the trees. “She wouldn’t have gone any farther than this,” he said. “I don’t think she crossed the road—let’s head back toward the house.”

Night was lowering fast, opaque and plum-colored where it draped over the lake.

“Emma,” Alex called out. “It’s Alex. I’m here with Tom. Come out so I can see you.”

The twin high beams of a car slanted outward from a deep curve in the road. It was coming fast, too fast for such a narrow lane, so Alex retreated to the side, waiting for it to pass.

“Alex,” came Tom’s voice, harsh with fear.

At the same moment, Alex saw Emma’s slight form wavering unsteadily toward the center of the road. She looked uncertain, wide-eyed, her skin brilliant in the stark glare of headlights. The car was coming around the curve. By the time the driver saw her, it would be too late.

Zoë, who had just returned from the lake, approached the opposite side of the road from Alex. Her face contorted with horror as she saw Emma standing in the path of the oncoming vehicle.

Alex sprinted toward Emma, a rush of adrenaline making him lightning-fast. He reached her, shoved hard, and felt a massive impact that knocked him to the ground. Everything spun, the world turning too fast, his flesh translating to fire. But the scalding premonition of pain vanished instantly. He wasn’t hurt. He’d just had the wind knocked out of him.

It took him a few seconds to recover himself. Dazedly he sat up, looked around, and saw with relief that he’d succeeded in pushing Emma out of the way. She had stumbled against Zoë, who had caught her. They’d fallen to the ground, but Zoë was already helping Emma up.

Everything was all right. Everyone was fine.

That was a close one, he was about to say, when Zoë looked at him and gave an anguished scream. She began to sob, Alex, no, no … running toward him, tears streaming down her face.

“It’s okay,” Alex said, amazed that she would be so concerned for him. A rush of overwhelming tenderness swept over him. He stood and began to walk toward her. “The car just bumped me. I’ve got a couple of bruises, nothing more. I’m fine. I love you.” He couldn’t believe he’d just said it, for the first time in his life. And it was so damned easy. “I love you.”

“Alex,” she choked. “Oh, God, please, no …”

And she rushed right past him.

No, not past. Through him.

Startled, he turned to see Zoë dropping to the ground, huddling over a crumpled shape on the road. Her shoulders shook violently, and she crooned a few broken words.