*****
The rain started before dawn.
Soft at first — a misty drizzle that wrapped the skyline in a sleepy hush. But by the time Gabriel stepped out of his car, it was pouring, the streets glistening under the golden café lights.
He didn’t care about the rain. His mind was already running a thousand miles ahead.
He had called his friend who worked at the airport to check the name of the people who missed the flight and Emery was right there.
He guessed right. He checked all CCTV from the airport and he got all he wanted.
Emery hadn’t picked his calls last night. Her text had been calm — too calm. That kind of calm that came after panic. He knew her well enough by now to recognize the tremor she hid behind polite words.
He walked into Celeste’s café, shaking off the rain from his coat
