Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“Never been someone’s alibi before,” says Noah.
“Fun, huh?” I give him the weakest of smiles. Just truly pathetic.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, Sid.”
“She’ll never have a chance to get her life together and figure out a new version of happy. It’s why she said she came here. And I mean…obviously that wasn’t all of it. But it felt like some of it was the truth.”
He nods somberly.
“The similarities between her death and last time…leaving her car in the same park. Her hair being long. Maybe I am just being paranoid, but—”
“I highly doubt that.”
“A woman going missing now in this way almost makes it look like Ryan either wasn’t responsible, or at least not solely responsible, for what happened to Briana Petersen.”
He thinks it over for a moment. “If I hadn’t been here last night his bullshit story about you being the killer might have suddenly looked a whole lot more likely.”
The man is absolutely right and I don’t know what to do about that. But I settle for checking the messages in the group chat on my phone.
Muriel: They’re linking you to an abandoned car and missing woman. Call me.
Me: Cop was just here. It’s my cousin Grace.
Muriel: Just saw that in an online chat. I am so sorry.
Hana: Are you ok?
Me: Yeah.
Hana: Security footage of her leaving her motel room and getting into her car last night has been leaked.
Me: Cop confirmed signs of a struggle at her car. Don’t think they know much else.
Muriel: Should we come over?
Me: Reporters out front. Better not.
Hana: :(
“It isn’t your fault,” says Noah. “Whatever’s happened to your cousin.”
“I know. I just wish she’d gone back to New York. But if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Grandma used to say that all the time. I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about when I was little. Though I figured it had something to do with free ponies and I was down with that.” Just watch me babble my heart out due to stress. Meanwhile my fingers are busy picking at the stitching in the hem of my tee.
Noah nods in understanding. “Ryan’s new girlfriend has been hanging around?”
“It was her following us that night we walked to the lake. Did I tell you that?”
“No. When else have you seen her?”
“She followed me to the grocery store one day and gave me shit about stuff. Stood on the opposite side of the street another time and did some intense staring. And she was probably responsible for when you found the side gate unlocked. The day you were fixing the fence.”
“You think she’s been looking in your windows or something?”
I shrug. Because it’s as good a guess as any. “My security cameras record over their data every twenty-four hours if you don’t save it. She won’t be on there. And it’s not like it’s illegal to go grocery shopping. So I have no real proof this is actually happening.”
“And today’s the first time you’ve talked to Ryan in all these years?”
“Yes. That letter you brought me the first time we met was from him. He likes to write me creepy notes now and then. Let me know he’s got someone watching me and reporting back to him. He name-drops places I’ve been and comments on my hair and stuff.”
A muscle pops in the side of his jaw. Big feelings are happening, but his voice remains calm. “He really lost his shit there at the end of the call.”
“Yeah.” There’s not much I can say about it. “I didn’t know I was involved last time. That I knew the killer and could possibly affect what was happening. But this time I know that I am somehow involved and it’s still not helping.”
“Baby, you can’t affect anything.” His use of the endearment makes my heart skip a beat despite this fucked-up situation. “You’re not responsible for what’s happening and none of this is under your control.”
“I don’t want to hear that.”
“I know.”
“There really is nothing I can do to help her,” I say, my shoulders slumping.
“No. Not right now.”
“Shit.” There’s every chance if I do any more deep breathing, my lungs will collapse. Just die from overuse or something. “You’re still here. Are you sure you don’t want to run screaming? No one would blame you.”
“I’m good.”
“Yes, you really are.”
His shit-eating grin sure is something. “Now you’re just trying to make me blush.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” I almost laugh. It’s a close thing. “But I’m fine with you taking it that way.”
He smiles and gently sets Auggie on the ground. The good dog heaves out an almighty sigh. So hard being him. Life ruined. Again. “We need to eat. Then what do you say we get out of here for a while?”
My head turns toward the lurking media outside. “Not sure if going out there is a good idea.”