Page 9 of Shadow

Daphne walked back to the living room, picked up the remote, and turned on the TV. Netflix loaded. Friends—season three, episode fourteen. Perfect.

She pulled out her phone and turned off notifications. For forty-eight hours, Daphne Cross was off the grid.

The bathtub was almost full. She turned off the water as steam fogged the mirror, the eucalyptus scent so strong now it cleaned out her lungs.

Daphne stripped out of her tactical pants, the gray long-sleeve shirt, and sports bra. Everything into the hamper.

She stepped into the tub of hot water—almost too hot, but not quite.

This. This was what she’d been dreaming about for three weeks.

She slid down until the water covered her shoulders. Closed her eyes. Let the steam and heat and eucalyptus work.

Her phone rang.

From the living room, loud and insistent.

Daphne’s eyes opened. No.

She’d turned off notifications, which meant whoever was calling had broken through her Do Not Disturb settings. Which meant it was someone on her emergency contact list.

Aw.

The phone kept ringing.

Daphne closed her eyes again and ignored it. Whoever it was could leave a message.

The ringing stopped. Thank heaven.

Daphne sank deeper into the water and let her head rest against the back of the tub. Thirty-two for thirty-two. Perfect record.

The phone started ringing again.

Seriously.

Daphne stood with water streaming off her. Grabbed a towel, wrapped it around herself, and walked—dripping—to the living room.

Her phone screen lit up. Colorado area code.

Oh no. Caroline Kumar.

Daphne stared at the phone while dripping on her hardwood floor.

She could not answer. Could let it go to voicemail.

But Caroline, former mentor and old friend, didn’t call unless it was bad.

Daphne grabbed the phone and hit Accept. “I was in the bath.”

“That’s too much information.”

“Just sayin’—what can’t wait?”

“What can I say? I need you, Daph.”

Aw, she was calling in a favor, by the tone of her voice. Daphne closed her eyes. “Why?”

“We have a situation.”