Free Tell Me a Lie (The Story Series Book 3) by Tamara Lush

open a case until then. And maybe he’s doing something that he, uh, shouldn’t be. Maybe he went to a club to listen to music or see some dancers. Have you considered that?”
    The detective kept listing all of the possible places Caleb could have gone, and I shook my head. “No. No. NO!” I shrieked. “He wouldn’t go off by himself like that.”
    The phone went silent for a moment, and Colin and I locked eyes. I leaned forward in my chair, waving my hands in the air, imploring Colin to do something.
    “Maybe he’s not alone,” the detective said softly, breaking the awful silence.
    I flopped back in the chair and sobbed. Was that why Caleb hadn’t picked up my call the other morning? Had he been with someone in his hotel room? I started to tremble and Colin looked panicked.
    “Let’s plan to do this,” the detective continued. “When is he supposed to fly home?”
    “Tomorrow night at nine,” I mumbled through tears.
    “Okay, so he’s supposed to leave Friday night at nine. If Mr. King doesn’t show up and doesn’t get on the plane, we’ll open a case.”
    Colin said something and the detective responded, but I could barely hear over the loud whoosh in my ears. A mix of anger and helplessness surged, and by the time Colin hung up, I was shaking uncontrollably. I stood, not exactly knowing where I’d go.
    “Emma. Emma.” Colin rushed around the desk and gripped my shoulders. His fingers dug into my flesh, and I wondered why he was holding me so tight. “We’re going to send my mom and dad tomorrow, and we’ll get a private investigator on the case right away. Okay? But I need you to relax for the baby.”
    “This can’t be real. It has to be a lie, right? All of this? I don’t think I can calm down. I’m scared.”
    “I know. I know you’re scared. But you need to try, okay? The baby needs you. We all need you and the baby to be healthy.”
    “Caleb needs me,” I whispered, tears spilling from my eyes.
    I looked up at Colin, and he was chewing on his bottom lip. Why were his eyes so wide and scared-looking?
    By now I wasn’t just shaking—I was full-body shivering. Like I did the nights on the porch with Caleb in Canada during our honeymoon just two short months ago. Only I was deliriously happy back then, because Caleb had wrapped me in a puffy blanket, then circled his arms around me.
    “I’m here to keep you warm,” he’d said.
    Now that trip seemed like something from another lifetime. Standing in my home in Florida, I was frozen inside and out. Caleb was missing. And the shaking wouldn’t stop.
    “Em, I think we should call your doctor,” Colin said quietly.

Chapter 9
    I didn’t remember much about the rest of the night. The doctor made a special home visit and suggested I take Benadryl. The allergy medication would act as a sedative and be safe for the baby, she said.
    I took one and passed out.
    When I woke, Sarah was next to me, holding my hand. Our palms were sweaty and we were on our sides, facing each other. My mouth felt the opposite of my hand, dry and scratchy, and I smacked my lips.
    “Hey,” she whispered.
    I squirmed to sitting, wiping my hand on the sheet. “Did they find him? What’s going on?”
    Sarah sighed and rose, then helped me to stand.
    “No. He hasn’t been found.”
    I gulped in a few breaths. “What time is it?”
    “Nine.”
    I picked up my phone and dialed Caleb’s number. If only he’d pick up. Surely he’d answer me this morning. Voicemail. Dammit! I couldn’t help but see an odd look in Sarah’s glance.
    “Why are you looking at me like that?” I hissed at her. “Are you not telling me something?”
    “No, Em,” she said softly. “There’s nothing to tell, unfortunately.”
    Now crying, I wandered to the living room, where Colin, Laura, and a handful of people from their company had gathered.
    “No news?”
    Colin, who was still in the shorts and T-shirt he’d worn when he arrived hours earlier, shook his head. “Come in