Chapter Thirteen
You Are Not Alone
“Alex Hensley?”
Alex shot up and rushed over to the desk, though she could tell by the look on the officer’s face, the news wasn’t good.
“I’m sorry. There’s nothing.”
Alex rubbed the back of her neck in fear and frustration.
“It has been days and no sign of her. No messages, no calls, nothing. I had her mum on the phone to me yesterday saying she hasn’t heard from her. When I told her I had contacted the Police she completely flipped. Don’t tell me you have just given up. Please, there has to be more you can do.”
“Miss Hensley, I’m sure this is a trying time for you. We have searched your apartment and the apartment where you said she was last seen. We found not so much as even a hairclip. The owner of the apartment in question told us they had an argument after you left that night and he hasn’t seen her either.”
“He is lying!”
“Miss Hensley, I’m sorry, but he was perfectly accommodating to any and all queries. Every alibi he provided checked out. The case is still open, but we can’t hold him as a suspect solely based on your personal misgivings.”
Alex couldn’t stop her voice pitching even higher as her anger flared. “Haven’t you been listening to me? I thought the job of the fucking police was helping people!”
Alex’s arm was abruptly gripped and she was firmly led toward the front door. She tried to twist out of the person’s grasp when she realized it was Michelle.
“What’s going on?” Alex demanded.
“Shh. Come with me.”
Outside, Alex let her frustrations loose. “I can’t fucking believe them!” Alex screamed.
“Okay, I know, but you’ve gotta calm down. You’re no good to anyone like this.” Michelle wrapped her up in a hug.
Michelle had been there for her since Matt had skipped out. Frankly, she was glad to be rid of him, but it was still hard to get used to. With that and the desperation of not knowing what had happened to Lauren, Alex had found herself reaching out to Michelle, calling and messaging her for support and advice. She hated to be needy, but Michelle was so accommodating and didn’t seem to mind. Michelle had offered to take her out for drinks and a talk the past two nights. So finally when Alex needed to see if she could find out something more about Lauren, she asked Michelle to accompany her to the police station. Michelle once again, had been happy to come along and be supportive.
“I’m going back there myself, right now,” Alex said.
“What? To Ryan’s? You can’t do that.”
“Why? They don’t want to do anything.” She pointed back at the police station. “I’ll prove he knows something.”
“Whoa… That’s seriously crazy. What do you think you can do?”
“I don’t know, but something. Anything! I know I made him nervous when I was there last, I know it!”
“Sweety—” Michelle said, taking both of Alex’s hands. “Just calm down for a second. You’re tired and emotional. It’s understandable. I’m going to take us back to your place, where you can get a few hours sleep. And if you still want to go there when you wake up, I’ll go with you, I promise. Just take some time to think about exactly what you want to say and how you want to play it, ok? He’s not stupid enough to fall for just any line. There’s no sense going in without a plan. Just wait until nightfall, that’s all I ask.”
Alex thought for a moment and then nodded. After this many days, it was unlikely Ryan was expecting any visits from her anyway, so waiting a bit longer probably wouldn’t make much of a difference. She had come to trust Michelle and her judgment. And a few hours of sleep couldn’t hurt. She realized just how exhausted she felt.
*
It was 7 o’clock—the time when the young and trendy generation were out on the town hunting for pleasures of all sorts. Drugs, booze, company or just to dance. Strange to think that she, one of the leaders of that generation—at least in Sydney—found herself walking towards an apartment building rather than a nightclub.
Every step she took, every movement, no matter how small, was different. Felt better. Where before she strode with confidence, her gait had now become bold, fearless. The reflection in the glass door was a surprise, but not as much as the ease with which these sultry legs crossed the threshold and ascended a staircase that was all too familiar, yet felt very new.
Her heels drummed out a rhythm, one after the other, as she made her way down the corridor toward her target. Hesitation? No, a memory. Of the last time her eyes saw this place. What a difference several days had made. She couldn’t smell him, but she could hear him breathing. The sound threatened to rush her yet she fought its pull. She listened harder, raising her head, finally lowering it and turned her body towards the door, smiling. He was alone.
Cold hatred fuelled her next steps. A thirst she had never experienced before tightened her throat, telling her without words what she needed was beyond the door. She stopped in front of Ryan Teeran’s apartment and knocked, repeating her silent vow—the one she’d made when she woke. He would not die before he suffered.
As the door opened, he said, “Man, you pizza guys must drive like the wind. That only took ten…” He trailed off when he realized no one was there. He stepped outside his apartment and looked left to right, finding not one soul.
He turned to go back inside when he was lifted off his feet and crashed into the opposite wall of the corridor and finally to the floor.
“Miss me, baby?”
Ryan lay
