47

Lauren hadn’t planned on falling asleep, but her body must have just given up, because the next thing she knew she was lying on her bed in her bathrobe, still holding her phone and the morning sunlight was streaming through her window.

She had amassed twenty-seven emails, eight voice messages, and forty-two text messages while she was passed out. Ten texts and three emails were from Lindsey. Two emails and eight texts came from Erin. Seven texts were from Dayla. Four of the texts and two of the voice mails were from Mark. One text was from Peter Reese. It was two words long.

Pray hard.

It had come in at 4:38 in the morning.

It was 6:59 now. A little more than two and a half hours ago, Reese was still alive, she thought, or maybe not. Maybe Peter wrote that because they were bringing in the priest for last rites. Maybe he’s already dead.

Instead of texting Peter back, Lauren bit her bottom lip until it bled as she listened to Mark’s messages. All were insisting she call him.

Mark had always been an early riser, but she wasn’t particularly concerned about waking him if he had chosen the luxury of sleeping in. He answered on the first ring.

“He’s got your information, but he’ll only give it to you in person, and he wants the cash up front.”

“Whatever he wants.” Lauren wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. It came away smeared with blood. “How much is he asking for?”

“He’s my guy. I pay him. Just meet me in an hour at Teddy’s Diner on Abbott Road in Lackawanna.”

“Are you sure he’ll be able to meet us on such short notice?”

“For cash, absolutely. You know the place I’m talking about?”

“Across from the plaza. Teddy, the Greek guy with the flowing black hair. We used to eat there when we were dating.”

“That’s the one. Eight o’clock.”

“I’ll be there.”

She hit the end button and sat staring at her screen reflecting her mirror image back at her. She hadn’t brushed her hair after the shower and it was a mess of tangles and snarls around her gaunt face. She clicked into her text messages and thumbed a reply to Peter. Just four words.

Is he still fighting?

Immediately three little dots started flashing under her message, signaling a reply was coming.

For now.