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I’m not sure how long it’s been since then, but Luis’ voice rouses me from a drowsy daze.
“How far is Raleigh from Asheville?” He asks.
Micah types it into his phone and answers. “Looks like about four hours.”
“Are you thinking that might be where Adley took Bennet?” Lukas asks, glancing back through the rearview.
“It would make sense, but we have no real way of knowing.”
I sit up too quickly, an idea flashing through my mind. “What if we call Brenda?”
“Bennet’s secretary?”
“Yes. She might not tell us anything. Bennet is big on secrecy, but maybe she can at least confirm where Adley went.”
“You're a genius, Six,” Lukas calls back as Luis digs through The Adley Corporation website on his phone to find a number. The first number he dials connects him to a main reception desk for the company, so he asks for Bennet Adley's office.
“Mr. Bennet Adley's office, this is Brenda. How can I help you?”
A small tendril of hope pounds in my chest.
“Yes, hi Brenda, my name is Luis and I am a friend of Bennet's. I was wondering if you might know where I can find him.”
“I'm sorry, sir, he's working remotely this week. Can I take a message for you?”
“No, thank you, um…I don't really know how to say this, but Bennet is missing. We are concerned that his father might have…done something or taken him somewhere. He may need help.”
There's silence on the other end. I'm half expecting her to hang up on us, but Luis keeps trying.
“If there's any way you can confirm for us where Jackson Adley is, we think we can track down Bennet. We have reason to believe that he is hurt, and Adley took him somewhere on a jet.”
She hesitates for a long moment and I think she might come around, but she sticks to her guns. “I'm sorry, sir, I really can't di—”
“Hello, Brenda?” I say into the phone, cutting her off. “My name is Six, and I'm the reason that Bennet has been working remotely. That warehouse in Raleigh that no one is supposed to know about? Bennet has been keeping me safe from whatever they are doing there.”
My voice chokes as tears threaten to overtake me again. “Please, I need to know if he's okay.”
“You're her then?” Brenda finally answers. “The girl from the hospital?”
“Yes, I am. Can you help us, please?”
A glance towards the guys confirms they are as shocked and fearful as I am. It's a risk telling anyone who I am, especially anyone that might be connected to Bennet’s father. Jackson Adley is a powerful and dangerous man, who will even stoop to hurting and kidnapping his own son to get to me. But we need information, and Bennet seems to trust Brenda, at least somewhat, so it's probably our only course of action.
Brenda lets out a heavy breath. “Let me see what I can find out.”
There is another silence, but we can hear the soft clicking of a keyboard.
“Mr. Adley is definitely in Raleigh, but there's nothing here to confirm if Bennet is with him or what they are doing. Mr. Adley's itinerary is blank, and there are no meetings scheduled. Bennet hasn't been reachable today and missed several calls.”
“Thank you, Brenda. Thank you so much. If you see or hear anything, please call us back?”
“I will, and actually I know someone that might be able to help. If it's okay with you, I'd like to give your number to Bennet's cyber security specialist. His name is Tony. He's been working with Bennet for longer than I have, and he might be able to help locate him.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you so much.”
“It's my pleasure. I know Bennet thinks the world of you. Please stay safe and let me know if I can help in any way. And when you find him, please tell him to check in with me.”
My heart swells. “We will.”
