ate sank into the armchair as tears spilled onto her cheeks. Her lower lip trembled as she re-read the headline of the newspaper she’d found on her coffee table moments ago. Her heart thudded, drowning out any noise in the room.
From the page, a picture of Jack stared at her. The headline read LOCAL MAN MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD.
Cate sat stunned for a moment before she glanced at the phone clutched in her shaking hands. She swiped at it and tapped a name, initiating a call.
Still trembling, she pressed the phone to her ear and waited for a response. She barely heard the voice on the other end.
She blinked slowly as she struggled to form words. “Damien,” she choked out, her voice weak and breathy, “I need your help.”
“Hey, Cate,” Damien answered. “Sure. Is it about the temporalysis? We’re still searching for some information, but—“
“No, it’s not that.”
“Oh. Well, okay. If there’s something else I can help with, just say the word.”
Cate licked her lips and leaned her elbow against the chair’s arm. She sunk her forehead into her palm, fighting back the tears forming in her eyes. She blew out a shaky breath.
“Cate?” Damien prompted.
Cate drew in a deep breath and straightened her posture. “Something terrible has happened.” She broke down in tears, unable to get any other words out.
“Oh, no. What is it? Cate, whatever it is, we’ll help in any we can. Is it the time rips again?”
“No,” Cate cried. “It’s Jack. He’s gone.”
