“Any family member? Please come with us!” a paramedic directed.

“Her husband!” Neville jumped to his feet, then shot a glance at Hadley. “Miss Pearson, I’m counting on you here!”

He pressed a business card into Hadley’s hand. “My number is there. Please, let me know any updates!”

“Absolutely,” Hadley replied with a resolute nod.

Neville hurried after the stretcher, departing with Savannah.

“What about Elissa?” Hadley gripped the bodyguard’s arm. “Did you find her?”

Elissa and Savannah had plunged into the water together. With Savannah now safe, where was Elissa?

“We couldn’t find her,” the bodyguard admitted, wiping seawater from his face with a grimace.

When they reached the car, its windows were shattered, the doors ajar. Neither Savannah nor Elissa was inside.

They must have stirred briefly, fighting to save themselves. But their fleeting clarity hadn’t lasted. They hadn’t reached the surface. The four bodyguards had split up to scour the depths. One had found Savannah and brought her up first.

“How could you miss Elissa?” Hadley’s voice cracked, panic etching her features. “Weren’t they together?”

The bodyguard shook his head. “With the fierce winds and churning undercurrents, they were likely torn apart soon after escaping the car.”

Hadley’s vision swam, her knees buckling under the weight of dread. She nearly crumpled.

“Hadley!” Tamara rushed to her side. “You look awful. Please, just go wait in the car!”

If Hadley lingered, Tamara feared she might collapse entirely.

“You can rest in the car while you wait. Mr. Scott is on his way. Imagine, if he sees you like this, he’ll have my head!”

g?ν., – ? ?

Hadley stayed quiet but eventually heeded Tamara’s advice, retreating to the car.

Her hands shook uncontrollably as she clasped them, her body trembling with worry.

“Crank up the heat,” Tamara told the driver.

She draped a blanket over Hadley, then stood by the car door, glancing at her watch now and then, anxiously awaiting news of Elissa and hoping Eric would arrive soon.

Eric pulled up twenty minutes later.

“Mr. Scott,” Tamara greeted, stepping aside. “Hadley is in the car… Mrs. Brown has been taken to the hospital, but there is still no sign of Miss Holland.”

Eric’s brow creased deeply. No sign of Elissa yet?

He had already alerted Ernest, who was likely en route. Tamara opened the car door, and Eric leaned in to look inside.

“Hadley,” Eric said gently.

.

.

.