Ryan came at him, holding up his hands. “You got that shoot-me look. What’s up?” Russ kept moving, speaking as he passed his coworker. “Can’t stop. I’m about to call you on your cell. Pick up.” Along the way, he scrolled his contacts, found Ryan’s number and as he passed the receptionist told her he’d be at Hennings & Solomon. He pressed the elevator button, saw it light up on the ground floor. Get there. No time to wait. He hit the stairwell and hauled tail down the steps. Penny’s office was six blocks south. Between traffic and stoplights, he’d spend twenty minutes trying to get there by car, or he could hoof it, in the stifling heat that would give him a stroke, and get there in five. But he’d be without wheels. Twenty versus five. She needs help. He had to get there. She might be next. Pounding down the steps, he concentrated on containing the situation. Brent’s on her.
