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“I can’t find him,” Jo tells me. “I cannot find him; I swear, it’s like he has just disappeared off the face of the Earth. There is nothing on Facebook. I’ve searched names, looked up mutual friends of Amber’s, done as many searches as I can. There is no Chase anywhere. I even found some old friends who went to the same school, and messaged them; nobody has seen or heard from him in years. It’s weird; I’m not going to lie. There is something very suspicious about him disappearing like that.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re right. That is strange. Why would he just disappear? Maybe there is another reason for it? Maybe Chase isn’t even his name? Perhaps Amber gave me the wrong information.”
“No, I checked the school records; they have photos on Facebook. He was there: Chase Wick. Same year as Celia Yates. There is no way he doesn’t exist. One of the guys I messaged said he used to be friends with Chase, but after Celia died, he just disappeared. He thought he moved away, because he was so upset, but nobody has seen or heard from him since and I guess they didn’t bother to look further into it.”
This is weird. Really damned weird.
I’d bet anything that whatever happened to Celia Yates has to do with Chase Wick and because of that, he disappeared. The question is, how did he disappear? A boy of his age couldn’t just disappear without help. Someone had to get him out, possibly help him change his name.
“So Chase disappears after Celia dies, and nobody can find him. That tells me he’s changed his name. He had to have help to do that. Most likely, family. There is no way he could have done it on his own. It also makes it pretty damned obvious that whatever happened to Celia had a lot to do with Chase. People don’t run for no reason, unless he was depressed and couldn’t cope?” I say to Jo.
She nods, looking at me. “You’re right; this is suspicious. We need to find Chase. We need information.”
“What about family members?”
“I’m looking into that, but it isn’t easy. There are so many people with that last name, it’s hard for me to say with certainty that anyone I’m looking at is related to him.”
“I’m sure you’ll find something; you’re incredible.”
“Either way, you’re definitely onto something. I’m curious now to find answers. I’m curious to know what happened to Celia.”
“Do you suppose her family still live here?” I ask.
Jo shrugs. “It’s possible. I mean, they might not have left town or anything. What do you want from her family?”
I bite my lip and meet her eyes. “I want to get into their house. I think it’ll have answers.”
Jo gasps, her mouth dropping open. “You can’t be serious. You can’t just waltz up there and introduce yourself. They know your face better than anyone.”
“You’re right, they do, which is why I’m not telling them I’m going.”
Jo’s eyes widen. “You’re going to break in?”
“Have you got any other ideas? Without Chase, we have no answers. We might not ever find him. Houses hold the best secrets. They’ve probably cleaned out Celia’s room by now, but even if they have, they wouldn’t have thrown her stuff away. At least, I wouldn’t think they would.”
“If her parents found something suspicious, they would have told someone.”
“Not if they didn’t find it. I know where girls hide things; they don’t. I need answers. I have a feeling those answers will be found at her house.”
Jo shakes her head. “It’s too risky. You could go back to prison.”
“Yeah, it is risky, which is why you’re going to keep a look out.”
“No, no way. Besides, her family probably has incredible security. You’ll never get in.”
I grin at her. “I learned a few things in prison.”
“Callie, no. This is the worst idea you’ve ever had.”
“Maybe it is,” I protest. “But it’s the only way I have any chance of getting answers. Nobody except Chase knows anything, and Chase is nowhere to be found. It could take months to find him. Right now, someone is out to make me pay. The sooner I can find answers, the better. Don’t you see that?”
She exhales. “This is dangerous, but I know you, and I know you’re going to do it. Even though it’s a huge risk. They won’t even want to talk to me, Callie. They probably hate me, too. I’m your friend, after all. They likely know who I am.”
“It’ll be okay. There is a chance they won’t know you. If they do, you can simply say you wanted to check in on them, make up some big story about how you’re suffering, too. They don’t blame you, Jo. They blame me.”
She shakes her head, running her hands through her hair. “This is so risky.”
“It is, but Jo, I really need your help.”
She sighs. “You don’t even have their address. You don’t even know their names.”
“No,” I say. “But Amber does.”
“Callie . . .”
“I’m doing this, with or without you. Celia has secrets buried; I’m going to dig them up.”
“Fine,” she huffs, crossing her arms. “But I think this is a really, really stupid idea. I just know you’re going to do it no matter what I say, and I’m not going to see you go back to prison, so I’ll help you.”
“You’re awesome.” I smile. “Thank you.”
She frowns. “This isn’t going to end well.”
No. She’s right; it probably won’t.
But I have to get answers.
I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of being tormented. I’m tired of the world not knowing what really happened to Celia Yates.
It’s time to uncover the truth.
Once and for all.
~*~*~*~
“I HAVE TO GO TO WORK,” I murmur into Tanner’s chest, kissing the warm skin softly before pushing up to my hands and looking down at him. “Stop distracting me.”
He chuckles. “You’re the one who rolled over and fucked me like a wild woman. I was just sleeping. If you’re late, it’s your own fault.”
I snort. “I’m certain you weren’t complaining.”
He grins. “Oh, I wasn’t complaining.”
“Good. Now, I have to go before your sister decides that I’m not worth employing and throws me to the wolves.”
Tanner pushes up on his elbows and stares down at me, his eyes scanning over my body. “You could just call in sick, get back in this bed, and fuck me until night.”
I shake my head, trying to climb out, but he wraps his big arms around me and pulls me down, pressing his mouth into my neck and nuzzling me. He knows I love it when he nuzzles me. He knows how damned good it feels. I’m suddenly considering the option of calling in sick, especially when his hands slide down and cup my ass.
But no, I have to work.
“Stop it.” I laugh, shoving him back and climbing out of the bed before he can grab me again. “I’m serious, Tanner. I have to go to work.”
He grumbles something, and then gets out of the bed. “Me too. Fuck.”
I chuckle and get a quick shower, before changing for the day. Tanner puts his clothes on, and then we both grab a coffee before walking out to my car and kissing long, and deep, and so damned sensually that I want him to bend me over the hood and be done with me right there. Instead, I pull back and tell him I’ll see him tonight, and then I get in the car and head to work.
I try to call Ethan on the drive, but he’s not answering my calls. After what happened the other day, I was a bit upset, but after a few days, I cooled down and felt better about things. He’s still not answering. It gives me anxiety, because he is my friend and I really don’t want to lose that.
I arrive at work and get straight into the swing of things. Andrea stops and chats with me about the other night, and how she found a super-gorgeous man to take her home, and then we get to work. It’s a busy day, and an even busier night, with a group of older ladies having their monthly book club meeting at the café. They’ve paid for us to give them all a three-course meal, so we’re run off our feet making sure they have the time of their lives. They do, of course.
When the night is done, and we’ve locked up, I slump against the wall outside as Andrea has a cigarette. The other girls disappeared as soon as the doors closed, wanting to get home to their families. Fair enough, I suppose.
“That was crazy.” Andrea laughs. “Who knew old people could be so damned hungry?”
I chuckle. “I know, right? I swear we put out a hundred courses and not just three. My lord. They went nuts over that dessert. Great recipe, by the way.”
Andrea made a gorgeous cheesecake with raspberry swirls. It looked freaking amazing. The ladies all gobbled it up and asked for the recipe, saying they’d never tasted anything so good in their lives. I had to laugh at that. Until I tried a piece, and holy moly, it was so delicious.
“It’s my mom’s recipe,” Andrea tells me. “She used to make it all the time for my sister and I’s birthday. We love it.”
“I can see why,” I tell her.
“I suppose I had better get home and try to sleep; I’m opening early tomorrow. You’re not on tomorrow, so I guess I’ll see you the next day.”
I wave goodbye to her, and then head down the street to my car. I can’t wait to get home, have a shower, and crawl into my bed. Tanner said he would come over after work, but honestly, I think I’m going to be passed out by that point. Still, having his hard, warm body beside me will be nice.
I reach my car and fumble through my purse for the keys. It’s dark around here, because I had to park around the back of the café. I look for my phone when I can’t find the keys, desperate for some light.
A hard body slams me against my car, a hand covering my head and smashing my face against the cool metal.
I freeze.
Everything inside my body stops, and for a moment I can’t think or do anything but pant desperately, wondering what the hell is happening?
Then my fight mode kicks in, and I start squirming when I realize the person behind me isn’t letting me go.
Something hard presses against my back. When I realize it’s a gun, I stop moving, terrified.
“Don’t move,” the angry male voice growls. “Do not move.”
“Please,” I whisper, terrified. “Take my car, my wallet. I don’t care.”
“Are you afraid, Callie?”
What?
What’s happening?
I don’t understand.
How does this person know my name?
“Who are you?” I stammer, my heart racing, palms sweating, and knees trembling. I’m so afraid I could cry and vomit all at the same time.
“I could shoot you, right here, right now, leave your dead body in the alley for someone to find. What do you think about that?”
Oh God.
Oh God.
He’s going to kill me.
“Please,” I beg, tears bursting forth. “Please, don’t hurt me.”
“I wonder if that’s what she felt, when your car came hurdling towards her. I wonder if she was desperate, just like you are right now. She didn’t get away. She didn’t get to run. Instead, you slammed into her, taking her life. Imagine if I do that to you, Callie. Take your life while you’re terrified. Leave you here, dead. Destroy your family’s lives.”
This is about Celia.
Oh God, this is about Celia.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her,” I cry, too scared to push back, terrified of how it’ll go for me.
“I’m not going to mean it when I pull this trigger, either. At least, that’s what everyone is going to think.”
No.
No.
No.
“Please,” I beg, my voice trembling and broken. “Please let me go.”
“How you’re feeling right now is how she felt moments before you took her life. Now you understand. Now you feel it. Now you get how fucking terrified she was. Should I end your life, too?”
I say nothing; I just clench my eyes closed and sob.
Maybe I deserve to die.
Maybe he’s right.
Maybe this is the justice I should have gotten from the start.
My whole body shakes, and I wait, I just wait for him to pull the trigger and end my life.
I’m so afraid I have to swallow the vomit that rises in my throat, but I don’t fight. I don’t beg. I just keep my eyes closed and I wait.
I wait to die.
He leans in closer, and into my ear, he says, “I’ll make sure the rest of your life, you feel exactly like this. I’ll make sure you never rest for what you did to her. I’ll make sure you wish you were never born. I won’t end your life, killer. I’ll drive you to end it yourself.”
Then he lets me go and in moments, he is gone.
I stand against the car, crying, terrified, and unable to move.
Then I sink to the ground, put my head in my hands, and I scream.
I scream for her.
I scream for me.
I scream for everything.