Free Ember Learns (The Seeker) by Ditter Kellen

Chapter One
    Laura Donovan pulled onto the parkway, cursing the oncoming traffic and her night-vision handicap. For the third time, the editor of The Hedger picked up her cell and called Ember. Voice mail. Damn it.
    It felt like an eternity before the beep finally sounded. “Hey, Em, it’s me. I need to talk to you. It’s urgent. I’m on my way to your place now. If you get this message before I get there, call me. There’s been another note, and I had to notify Detective Clay. See you soon.”
    Laura hung up the phone and laid it on the center console so that she could concentrate on the road. She hated driving in so much congestion after dark with her night blindness. She didn’t do it often, but this was too important.
    Ember was no doubt going to be pissed about Laura involving Clay, but she’d just have to get over it. A second note had been left on Laura’s porch when she came home from work. Her stomach clenched as she remembered the scrawled words: Your friend would be more beautiful wearing my hands around her throat.
    She shuddered and snatched up the cell again. A horn suddenly blared, and her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. The phone ended up somewhere on the floor as she grabbed the wheel with both hands. “Fuck.”
    The exit she needed to take was fast approaching. Laura put her blinker on and swerved over to the right-hand lane, cutting someone off. More horns blasted, and headlights flashed. She bit her lip and glanced in the rearview mirror. “I’m sorry, people. I’m in a hurry.” Like they can hear me.
    The road seemed to appear out of nowhere. She tapped the brake and sailed onto the off ramp, grateful for her SunPass so she didn’t have to stop for the toll.
    Traffic was almost nonexistent once she left the parkway, and she sighed in relief. Her vision was a hell of a lot better without all the lights in her eyes.
    A couple minutes later, Ember’s condo came into view. Laura pulled in next to her friend’s SUV and switched off the engine.
    Everything was quiet and peaceful looking as she climbed out and shut her door. Clay’s vehicle wasn’t in the parking lot, which meant he might not have gotten the message she’d left him.
    Laura rushed up the stairs and rang Ember’s doorbell. She waited a beat before rapping on the door with her knuckles and pushing the button again. “Ember. Are you in there?”
    When no answer came, she jogged back down to her car and plucked her cell from the floorboard to try the detective again.
    He picked up on the second ring. “Harper.”
    “Detective? It’s Laura Donovan. Did you get my message?” She propped the cell against her shoulder and headed back up the stairs.
    “I’m on my way. What’s going on?”
    “The Watcher is back.” She could barely say the name without feeling sick.
    “I’m sorry. Did you say the Watcher?”
    “Yes.”
    “Carnley is sitting in prison, Miss Donovan.”
    “Just please hurry. Ember’s not answering her phone or the door.”
    “I’m one minute out. Stay on the line with me until I get there.”
    “Okay. I’m not going anywhere.” She paced back and forth in front of Ember’s door.
    A moment later, she saw lights coming up the street, and she sagged in relief when the detective’s car entered the parking lot.
    “Up here.” Laura waved and ended the call.
    Clay exited his vehicle and approached the stairs. She didn’t miss his solemn expression or the way his gaze seemed to take in his surroundings. At any other time she would have appreciated the picture he made in his low-slung jeans and snug-fitting shirt.
    In no time, he stood next to her and took up her place, ringing the doorbell.
    “It’s not like her to not answer her phone.”
    “Where’s this note you mentioned?”
    “Here.” She retrieved the piece of paper from her bra and handed it to him. “Sorry, I always keep things there.”
    “‘Your friend would be more beautiful wearing my hands around her throat.’” He folded it