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Dex is s

till clutchingto cal forward, I pick up another photo and notice

The irey color and his neck bent in an unnatural angle, clearly broken He’s lying on the floor in what appears to be a dark, hotel conference room

“It’s” But everything tilts The rooht faint

I can’t finish my sentence It doesn’t matter because my friend whispers it for me “It’s Sloan”

Lane ine noise fro to see what his friend is doing I can’t move I can barely breathe I’m paralyzed and nu this hy I’m so terrified

My voice shakes like my hands “Why do they have these?”

Clearly, he was rueso to conclusions Maybe he had an accident Could he have fallen? But from where? And how?

This is why Derek has been so preoccupied Rising to stand,all but one print, I catch the side of the desk

“Melissa?” Elaine jumps up and holds my arm “Are you okay?”

“I have to talk to Derek”

“Of course” Her face is lined, and she holds my aret your truck Dex, hold my hand”

It feels like a thick fog is wrapping aroundmy vision Derek doesn’t want me to know about this But why? I’ to ask

We’re in Elaine’s car heading back to the beach, and I barely register her telling me she’ll keep Dex for the afternoon When she stops atin the driveway

“Callhim home,” she says