“Kayla,” Mark said quietly, “stay on the line.” She could hear him moving — a drawer opening, something being dragged across a desk, his breath quick and uneven. “Hold on. Just… give me a second. I need to check something.” Kayla pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing as the silence on the other end stretched.
She heard faint clicks — the sound of someone tapping through a phone app. Then Mark inhaled sharply. “Oh my god.” Kayla’s entire body went cold. “Mark? What—what is it?” His voice dropped to a hushed, urgent whisper she’d never heard from him before.