Vael glanced down at his watch; it read 3:30 PM. Apollo ought to have updated him about Vessara's whereabouts.
They were supposed to meet the wedding planners by 3:00 PM.
Vael stared at the message he had sent to Vessara at 2:30 PM.
"Meeting is running long. Can't make 3 Pam. Did you get there okay?"
The message remained unread—two grey checkmarks.
He'd sent another at 3:05 PM. "The meeting just ended. Should I still come around?"
Unread.
He scrolled through his contacts, pressed the call button, and brought the device to his ear. The automated message cut through the silence, her voice replaced by that sterile recording.
"The person you are trying to reach is unavailable."
His thumb hovered over Apollo's contact. He pressed it.
Apollo answered on the second ring.
"Alpha."
"Where is she?" The words came out clipped and controlled.
A pause stretched between them. A hesitation that made Vael's grip tighten on the phone.
"She's not back yet."
