Three hours had passed inside the station before Detective Carter allowed us to go.
"We have patrol cars looking for her. She can't have gotten far."
Eight o'clock had arrived. Six hours had passed since then. Night stayed awake inside Daniel's place, me included. Sleep never came close.
Nine o'clock rolled around. That's when my Advanced Statistics session started. Missing wasn't an option. A test waited that day.
"I'll go with you," Daniel said.
"You can't. You have office hours. The dean will notice." I grabbed my bag. "It's broad daylight. Campus security knows to watch for her. I'll be fine."
"Brooklyn - "
"I'll text you constantly. I'll stay in public areas. I promise."
He pulled me close, kissed my head. "If you see her, you run. Don't engage. You run. Understood?"
"Understood."
Footsteps dragged toward campus, each one heavier than the last. Out of the corner of my eye, shapes twitched - always her. Strangers wore her face until they didn't.
