“Thanks.” I quickly end the call.
It takes me only six minutes to reach Katherine’s apartment, and as soon as she opens the door, I slip inside.
“I really hate that I have to ask this, but you’re my only hope. I don’t want to call Alessandra because she’ll be suspicious and then things could happen...”
“Whoa, slow down. What are you talking about? Wait, don’t tell me you got deeper into that shit with Caleb and...”
“I have to do something.” I wave my hands. “One of Caleb’s friends agreed to help me. Raphael doesn’t know, but he decided to sell him on some auction. And now I have to get him somehow, but I...”
Katherine frowns, scratching her ear. “Tomorrow. They’ll sell him tomorrow.”
“How do you know?” I ask in surprise.
She shakes her head. “Let’s just say it was of interest to me after... well, doesn’t really matter. Just trust me on this.”
“Okay, so do you know where they’ll sell him? Is there like an auction place or something?”
“Yeah, but the location changes all the time. I can figure it out, though. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this for you,” she says determinedly.
“What? No, I won’t put you through that.” If Katherine was at one of those auctions after she was kidnapped, I don’t even want to imagine what walking into a similar place would feel like for her.
“I can handle it.” She gives me a reassuring smile. “And there’s nothing you can say or do to change my mind. I know more about how those things work than you do. Besides, Raphael knows you. Just tell me who I’m supposed to get.”
I want to argue, but I know it’s useless. Katherine will never reveal the location or the time of the auction to me. “Um, his name is Isaac. Dark hair, blue eyes. Scars on his back. Raphael’s tattoo.”
“Okay, I’ll get him.”
“Are you sure they’ll let you in? If they know about you...”
She raises her finger to shush me. “Not a word. I know what I’m doing.”
“Okay. Just call me when you...” I take a deep breath.
“I will.” She places her hand on my shoulder. “Will you now tell me what exactly you’re planning to do?”
“Yeah.” I let her lead me to the living room, and then I tell her everything.
My whole body feels itchy, and I keep switching between the TV channels while constantly checking my new phone like an idiot. There’s absolutely nothing that can keep my attention. I got a new number just for Katherine, in case Raphael really is listening in on my regular line.
The smell of burnt food comes from the kitchen and I realize I’ve forgotten about it. I run toward the stove, but my fries are almost completely black. I sigh, turning off the stove. As I take a glass of water, which does nothing to calm my jittery stomach, I hear my phone ringing. I rush back to the living room and snatch the phone. Katherine’s number is flashing on the screen.
“Hello?” I say in a shaky voice, and there’s a brief silence on the other end of the line. The part of my mind that has seen way too many movies can already picture Katherine’s kidnapper heavily breathing on the phone.
“I’ve got him,” Kat says, and I sink to the floor so relieved that I could cry.
“You do?” I ask just to make sure I heard right.
“Yeah, but can you figure out real quick what you’re going to do with him? Because he’s insufferable.” She groans. “He thinks I’m his new master or something.”
“Can I talk to him?” I just want to tell him everything is all right and that Kat won’t hurt him. He knows me and he’s more likely to believe me.
“Um...” Katherine hesitates. “Not right now. He’s out.”
“What? Did you give him something?”
“Just the mandatory pills. I assume he took something before that too. Don’t worry. He’ll wake up,” she says cheerfully.
“Mandatory pills?” I don’t even know what’s that supposed to mean, but I’ve got used to that feeling already.
