Chapter 58

Thirty seconds later, the phone starting ringing again.

Gideon rolled over. The other side of the bed was cold, and the clock flashed an obscene early hour. Emma had long ago left for work, but even if Jesse had taken her in—which he was prone to do most mornings—he should have been back already.

The ringing stopped. Gideon sighed and closed his eyes.

When his cell phone began buzzing on the nightstand, he growled and reached over to snatch it up.

Derek’s phone number was on the display.

“Do you have any idea what fucking time it is?” Gideon snarled in lieu of a greeting.

“I know. I’m sorry, it couldn’t be helped.”

No playful quip, no defensive rejoinder. Derek’s voice was strained and subdued, and in the background, Gideon heard the tinny announcement of someone talking over a loudspeaker system.

“I’m guessing it was you who tried the private number.” He fell back onto the mattress and closed his eyes. “You couldn’t just leave a message on the voice mail?”