A strange sense of unease crept into Joshua''s heart.


    He immediately tried calling Ste.


    No one picked up.


    He dialed Abby''s number. Same result.


    Joshua tried again and again, but still, there was no answer.


    That flicker of dread inside him grew stronger. He pulled up Candida Fletcher''s number and called her.


    Candida sounded surprised. "Aren''t Ste and Abby in Sandford for thepetition? Maybe you just can''t reach them because it''ste over there and they''ve already gone to bed?"


    It was already 10 p.m. in Novaris-a perfectly reasonable time to be asleep.


    Joshua asked, "Do you know which hotel they''re staying at?"


    "I''m not sure," Candida replied. "But I remember they mentioned going back to Neo-Vesperast time, and Abby said Foreman was in charge of arranging their Sandford itinerary. Maybe you should check with Mr. Richards?"


    "I''ll do that," Joshua said, then hung up and called Foreman.


    The phone rang and rang, but no one answered. Eventually, the call disconnected on its own.


    Foreman wasn''t answering either?


    Joshua''s expression darkened.


    Maybe the three of them were together. He knew a bit about Foreman''s feelings toward Ste, and there was no way Foreman would miss the opportunity to look after her while she was in Sandford for thepetition.


    Thinking it over, Joshua decided to try again.


    The phone buzzed in his ear. Still no answer.


    He didn''t want to disturb Ste and Abby''s rest, so he didn''t keep calling them over and over. But with Foreman, he had no such reservations.


    Joshua called again. And again. He lost track of how many times he tried before, finally, someone answered.


    A man''s voice came through-tinged with a hint of irritation. "Who is this?"


    "It''s Joshua," he said evenly. "I wanted to ask where Ste and Abby are." "Joshua?" For a few seconds, Foreman was silent.


    Then, quickly regaining hisposure, he replied, "They should be resting at the hotel."


    "But I can''t reach them," Joshua said, voice tight. "Neither of them is picking up." Foreman sounded nonchnt. "Maybe they''re in the shower, or asleep. Isn''t it normal not to be able to reach someone thiste?"


    "Weren''t you the one who set up their hotel arrangements?" Joshua pressed. "Which hotel are they staying at? I can have the front desk


    ring their room for me."


    There was a sudden chill in


    Foreman''s tone. "Joshua, it''ste Ste and Abby are already resting. Are you trying to disturb them? Can''t whatever you have to say wait until tomorrow?"


    Joshua narrowed his eyes. "Don''t you think it''s strange that I suddenly can''t reach either of them? Aren''t you worried something might have happened?"


    Foreman paused, then replied, "Sandford is my city. Nothing''s going to happen to them here."


    He wasn''t wrong. Normally, knowing Foreman''s feelings for Ste, Joshua had no doubt Foreman would keep her safe in Sandford.


    Foreman added, "Just enjoy your vacation. I''ll make sure Ste is safe. I''ve got things to take care of here, so I''ll have to go."


    Without waiting for a response, he hung up.


    It wasn''t all that unusual for Ste and Abby to be unreachable at the same time. Back when Ste hosted concerts, neither of them could be contacted for hours.


    Still, Joshua couldn''t shake his worry.


    He gazed out the window at the bright daylight.


    It was already night in Novaris, but still daytime here.


    A flight from his city back to Novaris would take eighteen hours. The distance was so great-if something truly happened to Ste, he''d never make it back in time.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Joshua dialed Haynes''s number.