"The day care's a dead end now," I say, standing. "He won't go back there."
"Which means his focus has shifted," Matthew adds. "If he can't access Morgan at work, he'll try elsewhere."
The air rushes from my lungs. Our house. The home we've just begun to build together.
"We need to get back to Morgan," I say, already moving toward the door. "Now."
chapter six
Trenton
We burst through the closed door and I start calling Morgan.
"Fuck, voicemail." I redial, the screen blurring in front of me. "Pick up, Morgan, pick up."
Matthew has his phone out. "Her dad's closer. He can get there first."
It goes straight to voicemail again.
"Shit," I hiss, redialing. "Pick up, Morgan."
Matthew puts the phone up to his ear. "I'm calling her dad."
I nod, focusing on the road as we tear out of the parking lot. The day care is only fifteen minutes away, but right now it feels like fifteen hours. The phone continues to ring in my ear.
"Come on, baby," I mutter. "Answer."
"Isaac?" Matthew's voice sounds beside me. "It's Matthew. We have a situation."
I listen with half an ear as Matthew explains the situation to Morgan's father. The other half of my brain is running through scenarios, planning routes, calculating risks.
"Evan Harris has a history of stalking," Matthew explains, his voice tight. "He pulled his daughter from the school this morning, and we think he might be targeting Morgan now."
My hands tighten around the steering wheel. The traffic light ahead turns amber, but I gun it, pushing the truck faster.
"We're heading to the day care now," Matthew continues. "But you're closer. Can you get to her?"
I can hear Isaac's deep voice through the phone, too low to make out the words, but the tone is clear, concerned, determined.
"Thank you," Matthew says. "We'll be there soon."
He hangs up, his face hard. "He's already on his way. Said he's five minutes out."
I nod, relief washing through me. Morgan's father may be a quiet man, but he's protective as hell and knows how to handle himself. If anyone can keep her safe until we arrive, it's Isaac Scott.
"Try her again," Matthew suggests.
This time, Morgan answers on the second ring. "Trent? What's wrong? You sound?—"
"Are you safe?" I cut in, my voice sharper than intended. "Are you alone?"
"Of course I'm safe," she says, confusion evident. "I'm in my classroom with fifteen four-year-olds. What's going on?"
"Evan has a history," I tell her, keeping my voice as calm as possible. "Stalking charges. Multiple women. Your dad is on his way."
"What?" Her voice drops to a whisper. "Trent, I can't talk about this now. The children?—"
"Just stay inside," I instruct. "Don't go anywhere alone. Your dad will be there in a few minutes."