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Blocked?

Rafe’s phone call went straight to Hope’s voiceain She had a compassionate heart, and there was no way she would be able to swipe through every one of his relentless calls on the first ring Which meant she must have cut herself off from him

He alternated between anger, frustration, and despair Goddaot to him to the point of obsession

“Hey, Rafe We ”

He scrubbed a hand across the stubble on his cheek How long since he’d shaved? Showered? Slept? What day was it? Wednesday? Thursday?

“Rafe?” Travers prompted

“Yeah Corabbed a cup of coffee, then went out on the deck The sun was her than he’d expected, and it burned his blurry eyes He’d spent hours last night poring through video captured by a camera outside the restaurant at the dock He’d seen Lillibet leave about thirtyfloppy hat had been pulled low over her forehead, shielding her face What it hadn’t hidden, oversize sunglasses had She’d been carrying a designer tote that was big enough to hold all that cash and jewelry

“About tena set of keys to get into her apartment”

“Go on”

“Elizabeth’s real name is Brianna Gibbons They talked almost every day But Brianna hasn’t called her friend since Friday”

What fucking phone did they use?

“We’ve got a nu Rafe’s n of Brianna We’re debriefing the friend now”

He wasn’t sure what his next step should be And he wanted to bounce ideas and tactics off someone Hope He wanted Hope

On a ridiculous irabbed his phone and pushed redial next to her number When her cheery voice filled the void, he sla

“Problem?” Travers asked

“Wondering how long I should stay here” His dad was a ht on the deck so he could watch for Lillibet walking down the wooden planks toward him

“Not much you can do,” Travers said

As best he could, Rafe was running Sterling Worldwide froiven his dad’s absence, Rafe was needed in Houston Jeanine had infor himself indispensable to the employees