Page 162 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

Callie sprinted through another mile on Nate’s treadmill, keeping a fast pace as the belt whirled beneath her feet. For days she’d been restless, craving an opportunity to get out into the fresh air and run along the ocean path or Highway 1. Nate’s home gym had become her solace—the only place she could go to get away and blow off a little steam. She wasn’t completely isolated. Molly, Gwen, and Julian kept in touch via Skype, and her parents checked in every day, but the sensation of being caged in was starting to take its toll. Today had felt nearly intolerable. As soon as Mac and Shawn had dropped her off, she’d hurried upstairs and packed herself and Nate a couple of bags. She hated that they were heading over to the mansion under such troubling circumstances—that someone had made Gwen afraid—but still she wanted to go. She was desperate for a change of scenery and actual face-to-face communication without a piece of technology involved. After yesterday’s violent incident in Chicago, she’d kept the TV off and no longer bothered with the Internet. If she read one more article about Little Girl Lost or some fluff piece about her romance with Nate, she was afraid she might go insane.

“Callie,” Nate hollered from behind.

She screamed, grabbing hold of the handlebars to keep from falling. “Jeez, Nate.” She pulled the ear buds from her ears and slowed the belt. “You scared me half to death.”

“Sorry. I called your name when I was coming up the stairs, but I guess you didn’t hear me.”

“No.” She brought the treadmill to a stop and stepped off, grabbing the towel and wiping her face. “How was the rest of today?”

He shrugged. “Not bad. I saw a couple of news vans heading toward the ferry dock when I was on my way home.”

She sighed her relief. “That’s good. Hopefully they’ll all be leaving soon.” She moved past him, tugging off her damp T-shirt on her way across the hall.

He followed her to the bedroom, taking off his holster and radio. “It’s a start.”

She went after her sweat-soaked bra next, tossing it in the dirty clothes. “At this point I’ll take any sign that things might be getting back to normal sooner rather than later.”

“You’re gonna shower?”

She nodded. “I’ll be quick. We’re all packed so we can go when I’m finished.”

He rubbed at the back of his neck. “Callie, I need to show you something.”

She paused as she went after her shorts, not quite sure what to make of the regret she saw in his eyes. “What is it?”

“Sanchez sent back the Fourth of July footage—”

Her heart immediately kicked up to a wild beat as she took a step toward him. “You found something?”

He nodded.

“What?” She yanked up a folded T-shirt off the bed and pulled it over her head. “What did you find?”

He sighed.

She pressed her hand to her stomach. “God, Nate, I’m more than half-sick. Please tell me.”

He took her hand, giving it a firm squeeze. “Your mother was wearing the locket.”

“What?” Her knees buckled and she sank to the mattress. “The one I have? The one I drew?”

He nodded, sitting next to her.

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I had Sanchez’s IT guys enlarge the image—”

“You have a picture?”

“In my email.”

“I need to see.” She stood in a rush. “I have to see it, Nate.”

“Let’s go to the office.”

She hurried down the hall, mostly running down the stairs as her mind raced, trying to comprehend what Nate had just shared.

“Let me get in here,” Nate said as he took his seat at his desk and pulled her onto his lap, then accessed his email. “I spotted it when I was looking through the video earlier—right when she picks you up by the ice cream stand. You can see a flash where her necklace catches the sunlight.”