Chris didn't speak.
He sat frozen in the driver's seat, still holding the phone like it might deliver something else: an update, a correction, anything to make this feel less real.
I watched his jaw clench, his throat move as he swallowed hard, eyes locked on some point in the distance that wasn't really there. The final voicemail from Anne still played in my ears, like a second heartbeat pounding through me.
I didn't give myself time to freeze.
I hit redial and put the phone on speaker, trying to keep my voice from shaking. The call barely rang once before Anne picked up.
"Audra?"
"Yeah. We just got back. What's happening?" I managed. My voice too calm for the dread in my chest.
Chris turned to look at me, still pale, still silent.
