Hold My Hand (Sequel to Saved: Adopted by Brendon Urie)

Chapter 50

The black case felt heavier than it had five years ago.

Brendon carried it out of Unit 214 with both hands, the hard edges digging into his palms through the thin fabric of his sleeves.

He kept thinking about what he'd seen inside.

The old documents.

The photographs.

The recording device.

Things he'd forgotten he'd ever been given.

And then Sarah.

Sarah standing outside their house.

Sarah getting into her car.

Sarah laughing at lunch.

Sarah's car on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway.

Photographs that should never have existed.

Photographs that hadn't been in the case when he'd put it into storage.

Someone had opened the case.

Someone had added them.

And someone had known exactly where to find it.

His phone vibrated.

Brendon stopped.

Collins looked at him.

"Message?"

Brendon nodded and pulled the phone from his pocket.

TAKE THE CASE.

A second message appeared.

GO TO THE GARAGE.

Then an address.

Collins leaned closer.

"How far?"

"Three blocks."

Collins looked toward the entrance of the storage facility.

"Parking garage?"

Brendon nodded.

Another message appeared.

LEVEL THREE.

Then:

LOCKERS.

Brendon's stomach tightened.

"There's more."

Collins didn't ask what.

He was already calling one of the officers waiting outside.

"Get units around the parking garage," he said quietly. "No marked vehicles. Nobody approaches the building unless I authorize it."

Brendon looked at him.

"What are you thinking?"

"If they're using a locker, somebody has to get the case eventually."

"And if they don't?"

"Then we've lost nothing."

Brendon knew that wasn't entirely true.

They had lost time.

And Abby had less of it than they did.

His phone vibrated again.

LOCKER 18.

Then:

DO NOT OPEN IT.