38

LINDEN

“Have you heard from Jas?”

I paused for a moment before I replied because I couldn’t lie to Sadie. “No.”

“He was supposed to call me yesterday. I thought maybe he was busy, but I’m getting more worried now that he hasn’t called yet.”

“Maybe he’s in the out-of-coverage area. I’ll try contacting him on a secure line, Sadie. Don’t worry. I promise I will call you as soon as I have news.”

“Cenric wants to talk to you.” She sighed deeply. I knew her, and I knew how much she loved her brother despite what she’d been through at his hands.

Jasper just redeemed himself, and he did everything to prove that he’d changed, and he did.

“Put him on.”

“Hey, bro.”

“How have you been?”

“I’m far from my wife. I don’t want her to worry about her brother. Is Jasper in trouble?”

I exhaled. “Jasper said he had to find out something. He just learned that someone asked about him from his past. I don’t know how bad it is, but he looked troubled when he told me he has to go away for a while.”