Rhonan picked at his salad and furrowed his brows as Wyatt, who looked just as confused as Rhonan felt, played the message again. "What does she mean that time's running out?"

Wyatt shook his head, his forehead crinkled severely, "I'm not sure. I called her to let her know I had to leave town for a bit. I didn't want to give her any more information than that in case they went to her, ya know? I didn't wanna drag her into this considering she's pretty much the closest thing to a friend I have..." He paused, his burger hovered just beyond the stretch of his lips, "Makes me wonder how much they could possibly know about me really since they didn't go to her first."

Wyatt played the message again as he finally took another bite of his burger, hunger outweighing the need to call her back just yet. Rhonan followed Wyatt's example and picked at his salad more since he knew he needed to eat so he could take something for the pain. They didn't talk about the call or anything else until both plates were practically licked clean. It was apparent both were far hungrier than they realized. Maybe it was stress eating, but either way they were both eyeing up the dessert menu before Rhonan placed another call to room service. As they waited, he turned to Wyatt. He opened his mouth several times to speak, and closed it each time while continuously tucking his hair behind his ear out of nervousness.

"What?" Wyatt raised a brow and leaned forward on the chair. "I can tell there's something on your mind. Just say it and if you're worried I'll get mad, well it wouldn't be the first time right? But there's only one way you're gonna find out so just spit it out." Rhonan let out a puff of air and fidgeted some more before Wyatt shifted his chair and placed his hands on Rhonan's leg's to get them to stop from bouncing, "Talk to me, Rhonan."

The touch calmed Rhonan almost immediately, at least physically. He stopped bouncing his legs, stopped playing with his hair and simply stared at Wyatt before he licked his bottom lip, "How well do you know Sarah? I mean, you keep saying she's the closest thing you have to a friend, but what does that mean? I'm only asking because between that voicemail and the feeling I got when I met her." He shook his head and averted his eyes, “I'm only trying to look at every possible angle. There's something about that message that's just tripping the red flags in my brain and I can't figure out what or why."

Wyatt jerked like he had been slapped across the face and he stared slack jawed at Rhonan. "I've known her for years. She started working for me after she applied for a job a few years ago at the restaurant. She was hired for a maitre d' position and worked up to management last year. She had just moved here from Iowa where she lived with her parents. They moved to the states when she was like fifteen or something, which explains the accent. That's why we started hanging out more. She didn't have the money to go home for the holidays, I didn't have anyone to share them with so we hung out with some of the other loners from the restaurant and it built from there. I doubt she has a mean bone in her body. I mean, she can't even kill a fly without feeling bad." Wyatt shook his head again, more adamant this time.

Rhonan listened and tried to tamper down the sense of dread building in his gut with each word Wyatt spoke. It rang so false to his ears he was surprised Wyatt couldn't hear it. He placed his hand over Wyatt's and brushed his thumb along the soft skin, "I can't explain it, but my gut is telling me something is not adding up with her. You didn't see that look in her eyes, Wyatt. When I was laying in the parking lot and you were telling her you were going to stay with me..."

Wyatt went to argue, but his phone rang and he quickly answered it this time. "Sarah. Sorry, I was just about to call you back." He pushed back from the table, from Rhonan, and began pacing the room. Wyatt had too much nervous energy in him, he didn't know how to stand in one place for long, not unless he had either a spatula or paintbrush in his hands apparently.

Rhonan watched him for a moment, taking note of the furrow of his brows as he pulled out his own phone to send Josiah a text while he tried not to listen to the conversation. Wyatt kept telling her that he was out of town, but it didn't seem he was very convincing the number of times he had to repeat himself. Josiah replied with a voice text, he was still digging into things and the hospital had called him so he took care of that by saying Rhonan just felt the need to go home and that of course Josiah would take care of him and he absolutely would bring him back if anything were to happen. Rhonan chuckled softly and then checked to see how Wyatt was doing. Seeing the tension building in Wyatt's demeanor and the way he was carrying himself, Rhonan sent Josiah another message asking him to look into Wyatt's co-manager, Sarah Marino. Josiah sent a text this time agreeing to do the check but then making Rhonan promise to check in every few hours until things were resolved. Josiah wanted Rhonan to keep his phone turned off except for check-ins just in case they could use his number to track him. It made sense, even if Rhonan thought it was overkill. He didn't think they would really be looking for him, it was Wyatt they wanted. They only threatened Rhonan because they thought it would get under Wyatt's skin quicker. If he was missing, they would double their focus on Wyatt and Rhonan would be forgotten like yesterday's news.

"GODDAMMIT, Sarah!" Wyatt's voice was loud and Rhonan watched him wince as he ratcheted his volume down, "I told you, you cannot come to me. It's not safe. What are you not understanding? No, he's not...I haven't seen him since I left the station. Why? What happened?"

Rhonan's head tipped and he watched Wyatt with a growing curiosity. Wyatt held a finger to his lips and then came closer so Rhonan could hear through the phone. Sarah was getting agitated, that much was clear, but then her voice took a calming chill that sent shivers down both their spines, "When did you start lying to me, Wyatt?"

"I'm not lying, Sarah. Something came up and I ..."

"Time is running out."

"Time for what, Sarah? What is going on?"

Before she could answer there was a knock on the door. Wyatt cursed and asked her to hold on so he could answer and she let out a soft noise, "Tick Tock, Wyatt. There are some things you can't run from." She hung up without another word.

Wyatt was left staring at the phone in confusion as Rhonan went to answer the door. He checked the peephole, then left the deadbolt engaged as Wyatt had done earlier before he signing the slip, he waited until the attendant was gone and the hallway was clear before he opened the door and grabbed their desserts. He carried them in and set them on the table with Wyatt watching. Neither seemed particularly interested in their dessert any longer. Wyatt scratched his fingers through his hair and chewed the corner of his lip as his pacing resumed. "What the hell did that mean?"

Rhonan reached for Wyatt to try to take his hand, hoping it would calm him, but Wyatt pulled away and spun from Rhonan's grasp. Rhonan's voice was calm despite Wyatt pulling away, "I asked Josiah to look into Sarah. Figured I might as well tell you since you're already pissed at me. I have no intention of sitting here passively any longer."

Wyatt rounded on him and Rhonan could see the flash of anger in those hazel eyes, "This doesn't concern you. Any of it. I've known her a hell of a lot longer than I’ve know you. Yes, she was acting weird, but who's to say she wasn't being coerced into anything, hmm?" His voice grew colder and he narrowed his eyes at Rhonan, "How do I know you're not the one leading them right to me and trying to fuck with my head by acting like you give a damn? I mean, that makes as much sense as anything else, right?"

Rhonan rolled his eyes and sat down, playing with his ice cream brownie, "Are you forgetting I got my ass kicked as a message to you? Or that my life was the one threatened if you didn't do what they said? I didn't ask for this shit, Wyatt, and I sure as hell won't sit here idle while you duck your head in the sand." His voice grew louder with each word but still held and eerie calm, "If you'd rather do this on your own, by all means, you know where the door is."