The Serpent's Kiss

95

Jill was frantic. Where was Michael? What had happened?

She spun in the entryway, looking for her son. Looking for Matsumoto.

No one. Even the crowds were thinning and they streamed into the arena.

She held her phone in trembling fingers, debating what to do. Then she punched in Derek’s number. It rang and rang, then was abruptly picked up.

“Hello?”

She didn’t recognize the voice. For a moment, she wondered if she had dialed the wrong number. “Hello? Who’s this?” Had something happened to Derek? Who was this?