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“Lieutenant What brings you by this fine evening?”

Derek’s head shot up Patty, the dispatch operator, stood in the doorway dressed in a fuzzy orange robe and slippers, holding a gossip azine in her hands It took hier’s apartment

“What are you doing here? Where is Ginger?”

“It’s wonderful to see you, too”

“Patty, answer me now”

She see serious was afoot, because her de to businesslike “I don’t knohere Ginger is She called and asked ot hoht She said I owed her for that stunt I pulled, sending her to the hospital thinking you’d been shot”

Derek tried to breathe, but the air lodged in his chest “How long have you been here?”

“She left about four hours ago”

“Jesus”

“Is everything okay, Derek?”

“Did she leave you Willa’s number?”

Patty didn’t take the time to answer, just ducked back in the apart a slip of paper with Ginger’s handwriting on it It listed his and Willa’s nuue note for Willa, much like his own

He punched Willa’s number in his phone When she answered, the blast of dance round nearly drowned her voice out completely

“Where is Ginger?” he de?”

“Derek? Wait, hold on Let o outside so I can actually hear you”

By the time she ca point His voice reflected the strain “Willa, think Do you have any idea where your sister one?”

His tone seeive her pause “No Isn’t she at home?”

Derek paced the hallway like a caged ani she had so important to do”

Willa didn’t speak for a long moment “Oh God”

Derek froze, his hand tightening on the phone “What, goddammit?”

“I can’t believe this I really fked up”

“Explain Now”