“Eric!” Hadley reached for him instantly.

“I’m here,” Eric assured her, gripping her hand tightly. “Traffic was a nightmare, so I’m a bit late.”

Hadley shook her head, brushing off his apology. “There is still no word on Elissa. What if…”

She couldn’t finish, but the unspoken fear hung heavy between them.

Eric understood her fear. The same dread gnawed at his heart. Elissa had been adrift in the water for what felt like an eternity. Her pregnancy left her frailer than most, rendering her even more vulnerable to the merciless currents.

“They’re combing the waters as we speak,” Eric murmured, drawing Hadley into a comforting embrace. His tone was gentle yet unwavering. “They’ll leave no stone unturned. They won’t rest until she is found.”

Ernest was due to arrive any moment. Even if Eric didn’t say anything, Ernest’s resolve would ensure the search pressed on without pause.

Suddenly, a screech of tires shattered the stillness, sharp as a knife cutting through the quiet.

Ernest’s car skidded to a stop just beyond the police barrier.

The door flew open, and Ernest emerged, his presence commanding. His eyes, dark and tempestuous, betrayed a storm of emotion, his breath coming heavier than usual.

“Ernest has arrived,” Hadley whispered, sharing a glance with Eric.

They stepped from their car, hands entwined. Eric draped a blanket over Hadley’s shoulders, a tender gesture before they moved forward.

“Let’s go,” Eric said softly.

Phillips was already updating Ernest. “Mr. Flynn, Mrs. Brown has been found and taken to the hospital… but Miss Holland remains unaccounted for.”

“Still unaccounted for?” Ernest’s voice, though low, carried a chilling authority that sent a shiver through those nearby.

Ernest’s expression clouded over, thunderous and grim, as he moved in silence toward the restless shoreline.

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A heavy silence fell over the group, each person wordlessly following his lead, their steps weighed with tension.

“Tamara.” Eric’s voice broke through the stillness, his concern for Ernest evident.

He turned sharply to Tamara. “Look after Hadley.”

Then he faced Hadley, his tone soft but urgent. “I need to check on Ernest. Stay put. Please—don’t give me another reason to worry.”

Hugging her arms close, Hadley gave a shaky nod. “Okay,” she whispered.

Down by the shoreline, Ernest stood at the brink, the sea yawning hungrily before him. One step more, and the surging tide would claim him.

Shadows drifted across the stormy surface—searchers and allies alike, swept up in a relentless, futile hunt.

Ernest shut his eyes with agonizing slowness, his pallid face carved with raw fatigue and silent despair. Nearly an hour had passed.

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