“Whoa, calm down. I know. There was blood on the ground, but there wasn’t a body.”
“He’s toying with me,” I croak, a strangled cry tearing from me.
“Who?”
“Willis. It has to be him, Jack. It has to be.” Tears burn a path down my cheeks. Grasping my face, he kisses away the sorrow and clutches me to his chest. I listen to the pounding of his heart.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
“It can’t be him, Lizzy.”
“Why? Maybe he outwitted you like he has the police all these years.”
“He didn’t.” He pulls me back, his green orbs penetrating mine. “It can’t be him. I refuse to believe it.”
Boom. Boom. Boom.
My head shakes uncontrollably. “That’s not a good enough reason.”
“Can’t you just trust me?”
Can I trust anyone? “We need to tell Hernandez who you are.” I gulp as fear settles in my chest.
“I can’t do that.” He backs away like my words burn him.
“Jack.”
“No!” he snaps, sitting, his head collapsing into his hands. “They’ll take me away from you again, make me relive things.” He’s back on his feet, grasping me into his arms, his hold so strong, it steals my breath.
“I can’t lose you again.” His voice hitches. “I refuse to ever let you go. Please, Liz.”
“Okay.”
I scrape at the scars on my palm beneath the white sheet as Hernandez pins me with a confused gaze. “He didn’t speak to you?”
“No.” I try not to look at him, afraid he can see all the lies stacking up.
“Did you recognize him?”
“No.” I shake my head and reach for a tissue, wiping my nose. A smudge of blood soaking into the white quickens my breath. I’ve re-opened a scar.
“Sorry, I cut my hands on the ground.” I shrug, more lies coming with ease.
“We have something I didn’t want to tell you until it was proven.” He frowns. The grays through his dark hair are more prominent under this bright light.
“You found Willis?” I swallow, shock stiffening my body.
“A known location. Our officers are there now with Barnett.” He grips the railing at the end of my bed.
“Is Willis there?” my voice breaks off.
“We’ll know more soon. Until then, the store confirmed the clerk is missing.”
“I didn’t imagine it,” I snap. Everyone thinks I’m crazy.
“As soon as I have any information, I’ll let you know.” He nods.
“Thank you.”
Twenty-Seven
Listening to the nurse as she tells me to take it easy for a few days makes me want to laugh. I can’t go one fucking day without a body dropping.
Jack grabs up my stuff and guides me out, insistent on taking care of me. I bite my nails almost down to the quick, then hide them in my sleeves when blood blossoms there, embarrassed for Jack to see how I brutalize myself. Charlotte plays on my mind. Where is she? We need to forgive each other, be more open. “Are you okay?” Jack reaches a hand over to stroke my thigh. Inhaling, I lift my legs to my chest and gaze out of the window into the darkening sky. “I’ll be fine.” Will I?
Pulling up to the apartment building, anger flickers through me. My aunt is sitting on the step outside, a grocery bag at her feet. “Perfect,” I groan, stepping out of the car.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, a nervous flurry in my stomach.
“I’ve been calling. You always send me to voicemail,” she admonishes, her eyes flitting to Jack. “Who’s your friend?”
“Oh,” I wave a hand awkwardly at Jack, “my neighbor, Clark.” She wouldn’t understand, yet. This takes a much more planned conversation.
“What’s with the bag?” I gently tap it with my foot.
“Groceries. I know you and Charlotte live on scraps,” she tuts, her eyes dropping to my trim stomach.
“That’s thoughtful. Thank you.”
“So, should we go up to your apartment or are you keeping me on the street for a reason?” Fuck.
“Actually…” I teeter, hoping an excuse pops into my head.
“I watch the damn news, Lizzy,” she fumes before I can come up with something. “Why the hell haven’t you called, come home? Another girl murdered?” She throws her hands up in the air.
It’s apparent she doesn’t know about the duffle or the store clerk. “I’m booked in at the hotel off Candace Lane. When you’re ready to talk to me about all this, you can find me there.” She huffs, slamming the bag into my chest and waltzing off.
“Is everyone pissed at me?” I groan, looking up at Jack.
“I’m not,” he says, a proactive smile hooking his lip as he takes the bag from my arms. “Come on.”
I follow him up to his apartment and text Charlotte.
Where are you?
Kicking off my shoes, I go to the grocery bag and rummage through it. “What’s in it?” Jack muses, taking out a couple of glasses from the cupboard.
“Fruit,” I bitch. There’s some pasta and canned goods too, but nothing exciting to the palate. An incoming text from Charlotte gains my attention.
We’re allowed in our apartment. I’ll be by later to grab some things. Then I think I’m going to go stay with my parents for a bit.
Thud.
She’s found her limit and she’s leaving me after all.
“Liz?” Jack frowns, reading my face. He walks over to me. I can’t do this now. It will be safer for her to leave. This is a good thing.
“My apartment has been released.”
“So soon?” His shoulders drop. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he asks, “How would you feel about still staying here, just a night or two?”
A hint of a smile touches my lips. “I’d like that. Maybe you could come with me to grab some clothes?’
Pulling his hand from his pocket, he reaches out, and I clasp his palm, curling my small fingers between his large ones. “Let’s go.”
Coiling in my stomach aches as I push into my apartment, fragmented memories of the day we discovered the bag punishing me with each intake of breath.
“Do you want me to just go in?” Jack offers.
“No.” I smile
