Third-Person POV
Ethan barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, the phone call replayed in his mind.
Not the words. Those had been simple enough. The meeting had been postponed. That much was clear.
It was the voice that refused to leave him alone.
There was something painfully familiar about it, as though he'd heard it somewhere before and simply couldn't remember where. Every time he thought he was close to placing it, the memory slipped away, leaving behind nothing but the same uneasy feeling that had settled deep in his stomach.
Jade was still out there.
Somewhere.
And every extra day he remained in someone else's hands gave his captors more time to do whatever they wanted.
His phone rang before he could sink any deeper into those thoughts.
Susan.
He answered immediately.
"Morning."
"Ethan..."
The moment she spoke, he knew something was wrong.
Her voice sounded strained, as though she had been trying to hold herself together for hours.
"I need your help."
