can call her from my office phone, but I'll need to be there."

"That's fine."

"You'll have five minutes, no more. Come on."

Uncle Alex’s office isn't too far away from the command center; the signs make it obvious enough as we pass. We find his office, and he has a seat while I take the same guest spot I did earlier. He picks up the phone and asks for the number that I ramble off from memory. He dials and hands the corded receiver to me.

Two rings go by before shuffling fills the line. My heart skips a beat when Monique answers.

"Hello?"

Her voice alone almost brings me to tears. So concerned, so...There's so much fear in there. Just that one word sets the stage on the other end of the line. She's...

Please subscribe to keep reading.