The streetlights flickered as dusk gave way to night. Kalisa stood on the sidewalk, her face flushed with frustration and fatigue, her phone gripped tightly in her hand. Caleb pulled up beside her, breathless, sweat beading on his forehead.
They had spent the last six hours tearing through the city, checking streets, hospitals, shelters, anywhere someone might take a sick woman trying to hide.
Still nothing.
Kalisa turned to Caleb, her voice rising. "We're running in circles! We need to go back to Don Khan."
Caleb shook his head firmly. "No. Absolutely not."
"Why?" she snapped. "Because you're afraid of him? Because you think you can handle this better than I?"
Caleb stepped forward, lowering his voice but making it sharper. "Because walking back into that man's den with desperation written all over your face is exactly what he wants. You confront him again, and you give him power."
