“Come upstairs.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Garrett has someone watching the entrance.”
My eyes moved instinctively toward the corridor, though I saw only nurses and visitors.
“How do you know?”
“Because the same car followed me from the office.”
Fear rose, but beneath it was something steadier.
“Go to the police station,” I said. “Ask for Detective Mara Ruiz.”
“I already tried calling the police.”
“And?”
“I lost my nerve.”
“You need to find it again.”
“Charlotte—”
“Daniel, listen to me. Do not go home. Do not go to Mom and Dad. Do not contact Garrett. Go directly to the station and tell them everything.”
“What about you?”
“I’m not alone anymore.”
I was surprised by the truth of it.
After the call ended, I contacted Detective Ruiz. She told me she would arrange for an officer to meet Daniel.
At six the following morning, Priya returned with a laptop and a paper bag containing a blueberry muffin I was not yet allowed to eat.
