“No, don’t tell anyone.” There was a hitch of embarrassment in Liv’s voice. “Just… get here.”
The phone went dead in Ryan’s hand and she tossed it into the seat next to her, getting her car started and backing out of the parking lot. She was just turning onto the dark, dead-silent main street when she realized she didn’t have Liv’s address. It was definitely almost bedtime.
It was the little details like that that slipped your mind when you were tired.
Her phone bleeped, drawing her attention. There was an address on the screen, a text from Liv. Ryan let out a long exhale. Hopefully someone hadn’t come and kidnapped both of them, or something more sinister. She shot Dane a text, letting him know where she was going, before she put the address in her GPS.
It wasn’t too far out of town, much to Ryan’s surprise. But Liv’s house was located on a dirt road she hadn’t seen before. It made sense, since their small town was basically built in the middle of a forest. There were surely tons of roads and paths that Ryan hadn’t yet explored.
When she pulled up to the house, her breath got caught in her throat. The house was huge and Victorian, with turrets she thought only existed in the movies. Liv and her dog stood in front of it, almost lost against the background.
Throwing the car into park, Ryan got out and immediately went to her. Liv was dressed in her pajamas, clearly fresh out of bed. She didn’t look at Ryan.
Ryan stood there, respecting her space. All she wanted to do was hug her, but she wasn’t sure what to do. Liv had never invited her over before, yet after a week or two back, she had texted Ryan the address. Did that mean something?
“I’m sorry.” Liv sighed.
Ryan looked at her, curious and apprehensive.
“I didn’t know who else to call.” Liv lifted her eyes and looked at Ryan. “You can’t tell anyone, okay?”
Ryan nodded. She didn’t know why it was important, but it was.
“What do you need?” Ryan asked, her voice soft.
“Gram must have wandered off.” Liv sighed. “She’s early-stage Alzheimer's.”
Ryan nodded, trying not to betray a tiny thrill that Liv was trusting her with so much. The situation was horrible, but Liv had let her in. Liv was trusting her with something that Ryan doubted she shared with many.
“Have you searched the house?” Ryan asked, scanning the property. It was large, with a few outbuildings and plenty of forest.
“I checked her room and a few others, but the front door was open and a window was broken.” Liv rubbed her arms as if to generate some friction to keep her warm.
“Has she done this before?” Ryan asked.
Liv hesitated. “Once.” She looked broken, almost. “I’ve only been back a month, but last time Gram was close by.”
“We’ll find her,” Ryan assured. She looked down at the beagle next to Liv. “Mocha, right?”
Liv nodded.
“Do you think she can find your Gram?” Ryan looked between the two, curious.
“I hope so,” Liv said. She crouched down next to Mocha. “Find Gram, Mocha! Find Gram.”
Mocha waved her tail, the white tip like a flag in the dark. Then she trotted off, her nose to the ground.
Ryan was going to be mightily surprised if this worked, but it wasn’t like she hadn’t tried crazier tactics to find someone who was missing.
“Let’s go.” Liv led the way, Ryan right behind her.
The property was bigger than Ryan had expected. It looked like former farmland, something that had once been tended. Liv’s ancestors, maybe? The grass was ankle-high, and the dew caught on the blades soaked Ryan’s pant legs as she walked.
Mocha led them to the first of the small out buildings. “It used to hold chickens,” Liv murmured as she pushed the door open. Ryan wished she had the flashlights, given how dark it was. “Gram?” Liv pitched her voice high, but spoke slowly. “Are you in there, Gram?”
No answer.
They were halfway to the next barn when Mocha let out a bark and trotted off in a different direction. “Is that alarm?” Ryan asked, not sure how to interpret it.
“Could be,” Liv said grimly.
Great. That was just what Ryan had hoped for. Creepers running around in the dark. A thought chilled her. If someone thought Liv knew something about Cairo, would they target her now?
A figure detached itself from the side of the building and lunged toward them.
16
Tuesday 18th October; 11pm
“Gram!” Liv’s shout nearly made Ryan collapse in relief. That could have been so much worse.
The elderly woman was dressed in a nightgown, her white, poofy hair lying flat against her head due to the condensation.
“Oh hi Liv, what are you doing out here?” Gram looked at her, then looked over at Ryan. “Oh, and you brought your girlfriend! Your Mom will be so excited.”
Ryan opened her mouth, then closed it. There was a lot she didn’t know about Liv.
“Gram,” Liv said, clearly embarrassed. “Mom’s gone, remember?”
Gram frowned at her, as if considering her words, and then collapsed in on herself. “Oh, yes.”
“Let’s get you home, Gram,” Liv said softly.
“What are you doing wandering about here at night?” Gram asked, concern in her voice. “It’s dangerous, you know.”
Ryan had to fight to keep a straight face, but she followed Liv’s lead and took the elderly lady’s other arm, helping her walk steadily back to the house with Mocha trotting at their side.
Gram seemed too tired to talk, as if the gravity of her situation had hit her. Ryan couldn’t imagine what sort of conversation Liv was going to have to have with Gram tomorrow. Ryan’s parents and grandparents had died early, before they’d gotten to this point. She couldn’t even imagine Liv going through that alone.
But that's was what Liv did, faced down obstacles that were strong enough to destroy families, all by herself, without backing down. It was something
