Tears trickled down her face. She took a deep, shuddering breath, then dragged her phone out of her pocket and called the ambulance and the cops.
"Ben?"
He didn't answer. Just continued to sob and cradle Seline.
"Ben, I have to go. I can't be here when the cops get here, or I won't get back in time to catch Farmer's message. He can't know.... "Her voice broke. She swiped at her eyes and continued, "He can't know we know."
"I'm going to kill that bastard," Ben muttered.
"We'll get him, don't worry."
"Not we. Me." He looked up. His face was ravaged, eyes bloodshot. "Promise me you won't go after him without me."
"Ben—"
"Promise me!" His voice was savage, his eyes intense.
"Ben, I don't want to lose you, too."
"You won't. I'll kill him for this. And nothing, or nobody, is going to stop me from doing it."
She hesitated, then said, "Okay. I promise."
