Chapter 2

Nina doesn't move.

The guide is still speaking.

“He left before I could catch up. I've already given them my position, but they need the coordinates from your message.”

I take the phone from her.

“This is Claire Bennett. I'm getting the rescue coordinator.”

I find him downstairs and hand it over.

Nina follows us.

“It was supposed to be a surprise.”

The coordinator turns to her.

“Show me the message.”

She unlocks her phone.

I watch him copy the location and relay it to the teams.

Nobody needs my anger right now.

They need accurate information.

Once they have it, I go upstairs and call Maya.

“Have Rachel meet me when I get back. There's something she needs to see.”

“Is Adrian—”

“They haven't found him.”

“What happened?”

I look at the closed laptop.

“I'll explain.”

I stay until the coordinator confirms they have everything I can provide. I give him my number and arrange to remain reachable.

The next morning, I leave.

Back home, Rachel reviews the files.

“Keep the originals,” she says. “Don't edit anything.”

“I haven't.”

“We'll also review the pending agreements with Vale. Nothing gets canceled blindly.”

I nod.

Our companies aren't our relationship. There are employees and other partners involved.

But Adrian doesn't get another signature from me without scrutiny.

On the third day, Evelyn Vale asks me to come to her house.

Lucas Grant is already there.

He gets up when I enter.

“How could you leave?”

“The rescue team has my number.”

“He went up there for you.”

I put my bag beside the chair.

“I told him not to go.”

“Everybody knows what he was planning.”

“Do they?”

Evelyn stands by the fireplace, gripping a tissue.

“This isn't the time for your attitude, Claire.”

Nina sits beside her.

She's wearing one of Adrian's sweaters.

I recognize that, too.

“It's all been overwhelming,” Nina says. “I'm sure Claire didn't mean to make things harder.”

Lucas turns on me.

“You wouldn't even stay.”

“I gave the team his route files. Nina gave them the revised coordinates.”

Nina's head lifts.

“Of course I did.”

“After the guide called you.”

Evelyn presses the tissue to her mouth.

“Enough. He's still out there.”

Nina reaches into her bag.

“He left something with me before he went up.”

She sets a small box on the table.

I know what's inside before she opens it.

The pink diamond.

“He wanted the proposal to be perfect,” she says. “He asked me to keep this safe.”

Lucas looks at the ring, then at me.

“And you're here talking about coordinates.”

I remember Nina's photograph.

I still can't believe this is mine.

She slides the box closer.

“Maybe you should hold on to it.”

“No.”

Evelyn stares.

“Claire.”

“Keep it, Nina.”

Her fingers close around the box.

I turn to her.

“The foundation will contact you about the end of your discretionary support and the housing arrangement.”

Her mouth opens.

“What?”

“Your tuition grant ended when you graduated. The additional support doesn't continue indefinitely.”

“You can't just throw me out.”

“You'll receive written notice under the agreement. I'm not discussing it here.”

Lucas steps forward.

“You're punishing her while Adrian's missing?”

“I'm ending an arrangement I voluntarily continued.”

Nina looks at Evelyn.

“I don't understand why she's doing this.”

I pick up my bag.

“You don't?”

Lucas's phone rings before she answers.

He looks at the screen and takes the call.

We all go quiet.

“Yes?”

He listens.

Then his face changes.

“His jacket?”

Evelyn grips the back of the sofa.

Lucas turns away from her.

“What do you mean, there's blood on it?”