The call rang twice before the growingly familiar voice answered. “Ms. Hawkins.”

“Patrick,” I said into my phone. “I need to talk to him. I want to talk to him—now.” I’d waited two days since my dinner with Louisa to call. I wanted to be certain of my demands before I wasted my chance to voice them.

“Him?” Patrick asked.

“Are you really going to act like you don’t know to whom I’m referring?”

He cleared his throat. “I’m ...