Tuesday
February 6
Since Nora died, we’ve heard nothing from the killer. There have been no notes, no flowers, and no graffiti. Nothing. Jake is either doing a wicked job at hide-and-seek or he’s laying low to plan his next move.
I’ve barely slept. I’m starting to feel the fatigue that plagued me for months after my parents died. My body aches and my eyes sting from lack of sleep. When I do drift off, I have nightmares, only this time it’s not my parents’ death I see in my dreams—it’s Sonny’s and Nora’s.
Since Jake has seemingly vanished from contact, the cops want us to provoke him into making a move so they can catch him. They’re not sure if Nora’s death threw him off course and made him go into hiding, but they’re determined to catch him before he can kill again.
Detective Alexander seems to approve of his partner’s plan to draw out the killer, but I’m scared. What if that there is another murder?
But if we refuse to help, it could mean that the killer gets away.
So I’m in my room getting ready. I’m not willing to sit by and do nothing if there is a chance I can help. I owe it to Sonny and Nora to try. In an hour, we’re heading to a club that the cops have already scoped out. Officers went there before it opened to speak to the manager and staff and get their teams ready for tonight.
I pull the brush through my long hair and stare at my reflection in the mirror. When I left home and came to college, I was determined to be a different person. I wasn’t going to stress over the little things to the point of making myself ill. I was going to think positively and not always see the worst-case scenario.
For a year and four months, I’ve managed to do that pretty well. Until now. I look like the scared, anxiety-crippled girl I was desperate to leave behind. Looking away from the mirror, I put down the brush.
It’s amazing how quickly you can revert back to old habits. My stomach churns with disgust that I’ve allowed myself to go to this place again—even with the circumstances.
Vibrations on my wooden bedside table make my heart leap. It’s a text message. I peer over, already knowing who it’ll be.
Riley. Rolling my eyes, I unlock the phone and open the message.
What’s going on, Lylah?
I can’t tell him what I’m about to do. He’ll blow up my phone trying to get in touch with me and show up wherever I am. I already feel like I’m weakening, so having Riley here will only make that worse. I’m crap at being strong around him.
I tap out a reply: Not much. Still no word from Jake. Cops outside the house and everywhere we go. Stop worrying so much. I’m fine. Love you.
That’s not good enough. Then, Have you thought more about coming home for a while?
I let out a frustrated sigh. I’m okay. No need.
I bite my lip in anticipation of his reply. He’s been trying to convince me to come home more frequently for a while, but there are too many memories that I’m trying to escape. And I can’t fall into bad habits.
“Are you almost ready?” Sienna asks, letting herself into my room and sitting on my bed. “Are you nervous?” she continues.
Putting my phone down, I tell her, “I’m in this one hundred percent. Honestly. But it’s a bad idea, isn’t it?”
She laughs. “We’re absolutely insane for doing it. Despite Sonny’s shortcomings, I believe he would do the same for us though.”
“He definitely would,” I agree. We may not have gotten along the whole time, but if anyone dared mess with us, he would have gotten in their face, I’m sure of that.
Our little household is like a family: we argue and get frustrated with one another, but we always have everyone’s backs. So we’re going to help Sonny get the justice he deserves by trying to force the killer out of hiding.
“How do I look?” Sienna asks, doing a twirl in the middle of my bedroom. She’s wearing a short navy-blue dress that looks painted on. If anyone has the figure for it, it’s her. She has her black hair pinned in a messy yet glamorous bun.
“You look amazing.”
She grins. “So do you. Chace will love the dress.”
I glare at her. Sienna is forever telling me to go for it with Chace, but I’m far too scared to make the first move. It would be unbelievably awkward if he turned me down, though from how he’s acted recently, I don’t think he would.
Chace is a big part of my new life and helping me become the person I want to be, so potentially jeopardizing our friendship by kissing him feels far too risky.
I sigh. “Let’s get tonight over with first.”
Her shoulders slump. “Do you think he will turn up?”
“It’s worth a try, I guess. If the police think the killer is still watching us, then hopefully he’ll follow us to the club where the police can nab him.”
Except I have this nagging feeling it won’t go as planned. Jake was always intelligent, probably more intelligent than the rest of us combined. Will he be able to see through the ambush?
Sienna shakes her head. “I really hate him. I still can’t get my mind around how someone could do that to another person. I mean, cutting them open and removing their heart? God, it makes me feel sick just thinking about it. And I’ve been trying really hard not to think about it.”
This is the first time since I told them about the heart thing that it has come up. No one wants to discuss it. “Yeah, I’m at a loss here too. I know people are capable of evil, but I never thought we’d know one of them.”
“Let’s focus on doing everything we can to draw the killer out of hiding,” she says. “For Sonny.”
I nod. “For Sonny. And Nora.”
We go downstairs and find Charlotte, Isaac, and Chace in the living room. Their faces are solemn, obviously as nervous as me and Sienna.
“Shall we get this over with?” I ask, turning out of the room and grabbing my coat by the door. The detectives stand in the hallway looking serious.
Charlotte has decided to stay home, and the closer we get to leaving, the more I’d love to stay with her. I’m torn between wanting to find justice and us all being safe until that happens.
We all gather for our last instructions.
“Remember, there will be eyes on you the whole time. There is no need to worry, but please try to stick together as much as possible. No one goes anywhere alone,” Detective Lina says.
Gritting my teeth, I fold my arms and try to feel brave.
“And if we need to go to the bathroom?” Sienna asks, almost sarcastically. “Who will stop Jake from stabbing us to death in there?”
Isaac tilts his head. “Don’t you girls always go in packs anyway?” His intonation is exactly how Sonny would have said it, which makes Sienna and I smile.
Detective Alexander didn’t know Sonny, so he doesn’t pick up on the humor. “We have people everywhere. You’re safe. We’ll start outside the club, and after the Valentine’s lights are switched on outside, we’ll make our way into the club in the hope that Jake will follow.”
Tonight, just over a week before Valentine’s Day, is almost as busy as December when the campus Christmas tree lights are turned on. As if a big Valentine’s Day event is even necessary.
“The cars are outside,” Detective Lina says. “Let’s nab a killer.”
I reluctantly follow her with my lip between my teeth. I’m ready for this all to be over.
Sienna and I get in the first unmarked police car, and the boys ride in the car behind. From outside, it should look like we took a car service, though Officer Grey is our driver.
Silence lays heavy over us. Supposedly, if we act like our lives have returned to normal, that we aren’t broken up by what has happened, it should enrage him.
That part I’m not too thrilled about.
“Do you think Jake would try something stupid? Like stabbing someone random in the club?” I ask as we approach the strip.
Officer Grey looks at me in the mirror. “It’s unlikely.”
I’m not sure if I’m encouraged by that or not. Unlikely isn’t a definite.
He parks, and we get out. We’re to walk the strip and go in ahead of the guys. I wish I could squeeze Chace’s hand for encouragement.
The club is heaving. Since Limbo closed down next door, the other five clubs have been busier. University students need to let off steam somewhere. I don’t mind large crowds, but I hate it when I can barely move. Limbo was Jake’s favorite club, but this place was always his second choice.
Detective Lina hopes that our decision to come here will send a message to him—we know who you are and we’re not hiding.
Being strong seemed impossible the day we found Sonny. I wanted to curl up and wait for it to be over. But now that the dust has settled, I’ve gained a bit of clarity. I know laying low isn’t an option.
As scary as it is to think someone is coming after you, I won’t let Jake rule my life. I won’t stop living because he wants me to.
The boys arrive. “You two want to find a table?” Isaac asks. “Chace and I will get drinks.”
Sienna nods. “Stay together.”
Like we’re going to walk off alone.
I stick to Sienna’s side as I glance around the room. But I’m not looking for a table—I’m looking for Jake.
“There’s one!” Sienna grabs my hand and tugs me along. I walk, but I’m not paying any attention to where we’re going. The club is quite dark and people are dancing, and every flash of light that hits someone’s face makes me think I see one of Jake’s traits.
We stop at the table and Sienna sits. “Lylah?” she calls, waving her hand in front of my face.
I look down. “What?”
“Are you going to sit?”
“Yes,” I drop onto a chair next to her. Act normal, Lylah.
“You shouldn’t be looking for him.”
“How can I not?”
She tilts her head and a lock of hair slips from her bun. “If he’s watching, he’ll know you’re searching. We’re supposed to be on a normal night out.”
I avert my eyes, feeling foolish. She right, of course. But I’m not as good at acting as Sienna. Hell, even Isaac and Chace are way more relaxed than me. I’m on edge, my back is rigid, and pulse is racing.
Jake could be inside this building.
“I just need a drink to relax.”
She smiles. “Yeah.”
The boys come back and I down half of my vodka soda.
Chace leans in closer. “I don’t think we should get drunk tonight.”
“I remember the word ‘normal’ being thrown around a lot, and this is what I would do on a normal night out,” I remind him.
He laughs and puts his hand on the small of my back. “Come and dance with me?”
As if I’m going to say no to that.
Looking up at him through my lashes, I nod.
We leave the table where Sienna and Isaac are arguing about which one of them could run five miles the fastest.
He turns me around on the dance floor and pulls me close. I don’t know if he’s more aware of what goes on inside my head now that I’ve told him some of how I feel, but he does seem to know when I need him.
“When this is over, we’re all going away,” he says.
Grinning up at him, I indulge in the thought. “Where?”
“Er… Magaluf.”
“You mean Shag-aluf? Really?” Magaluf is where everyone goes on spring break for casual sex.
Laughing, he tilts his head back. “I knew you’d say that.”
“I’ll let you take me to Vegas,” I offer.
He raises his eyebrow, giving me a suspicious look. “You want to get off-our-face drunk and be married by Elvis?”
Yes.
“Please, I’d make you work harder for it than that,” I say.
He laughs and presses his forehead against mine. My brain short-circuits. He’s close. Like, real close. Holy crap, I can feel his breath and smell his aftershave. It’s Chace overload and my heart is trying to break out of my chest.
I slide my head onto his shoulder, closing my eyes to savor the moment. When I open them, I freeze. I see him.
Shit. Jake. I’m sure it’s Jake. My fingers dig into Chace’s neck.
“Lylah?” Chace asks. Frowning, he follows my line of sight. “What? What is it?”
“Jake. I think I’ve just seen him.”
Chace’s reaction is immediate. He pulls out of our embrace and grabs my hand. With his free hand, he starts messing around with his phone, probably sending a message to Lina.
“Are you sure?” he asks, forcing us through the sea of students on the dance floor.
“It’s dark—but it looked like him.”
“That’s good enough for me,” he replies, still tapping on his phone. We head back to the bar where Sienna is getting a new drink.
One of the many undercover police officers reaches the bar just as we do. He leans in. “Are you sure?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I only got a quick glimpse.”
“Stay here,” he says and heads in the direction where I think I saw Jake.
“He’s here?” Sienna asks.
“We think so,” Chace replies. “Where’s Isaac?”
Sienna’s eyes dart around the room. “He went to dance with some girl I don’t recognize,” she says.
“We’re getting you out of here now,” Detective Lina shouts over the music.
“We don’t know where Isaac is,” I reply. I’m not leaving without him. No chance. He got the last note. What if he’s next?
Her mouth falls open a fraction. “Okay, so much for sticking together,” she says, shaking her head. “We’ll get you in a car, and I’ll find Isaac.”
“I don’t want to get in the car without Isaac,” I press. My pulse is pounding so hard it makes my head swim. He’s missing. When Sonny went missing he turned up dead.
“Lylah,” Detective Lina snaps, “I’m trying to protect you. Please get in the car.”
I grit my teeth. “Have you caught Jake?”
“We’re working on it.”
Whatever. She wants me to trust her decisions, but so far they’ve led to nothing.
“Jake sent Isaac a note. I’m not going anywhere until—”
Chace cuts me off by grabbing my hand and tugging. I scowl at him, but he ignores the look. “Get in the car, Lylah.”
“What? No. Why are you taking her side?”
He rolls his eyes. “There is no side. It’s safer.”
“Are you coming too?”
His eye twitches. Like I suspected. He’s planning to stay and look for Isaac. Damn hypocrite. “Just go with the detective.”
“Come on, Lylah,” Sienna says. “I don’t want to stay here, and I don’t want to be alone.”
God, this sucks. It feels like I have to retreat because I’m a girl, while only the men can be brave. What a load of bullshit.
Sienna takes my other hand, and Chace lets go. He watches me, and I can tell from his slight frown that he feels bad, but he won’t back down. I appreciate that he cares, more than he’ll ever know, but I’m mega-annoyed that he thinks he can ship me off. Who does he think he is?
I turn on my heel and stomp toward the exit without glancing back at him.
“What’s up, Lylah?” Sienna asks as we’re escorted back to the car. “Is there something going on with you and Chace?”
One of the undercover cops opens the door for me. I want to get in without acknowledging him, but I was brought up to be polite, so I give him a fleeting smile. It’s the best I can manage.
He slams the door shut, but it doesn’t snap me out of my current mood.
“Nothing is going on. Chace is an ass.”
“He’s an ass for wanting you to be safe?”
Yeah, it doesn’t sound rational. “Yes.”
“Okay…” She clears her throat. “He was right to tell you to go.”
My gaze slides over to her.
“I know it’s not what you want to hear, Lylah, but we tell each other how it is. The guy likes you, I don’t care what you say.”
I have been inadvertently hurt by him dozens of times when he’s gone out with other girls, so nothing is certain until Chace spills his feelings.
“Whatever,” I mutter. I’m not in the mood to have yet another conversation about my feelings for Chace. Sienna has always said that we’re too close, that he’s too caring for him to think of me as just a friend. But we both know she’s only trying to distract us. Her knuckles are white around the handle of her handbag she’s clutching it so tight.
Someone knocks on the window, and we both jump in our seats, my heart skipping a full beat.
“Isaac!” Sienna says.
I breathe slowly, sagging against the fabric. He’s okay.
He gives us a nod and follows Chace to the car in front.
“Thank God he’s okay,” I whisper, my shoulders relaxing. The remaining officers and detectives file to the cars as we prepare to leave.
The officer with us starts the engine, and we pull onto the road.
I lay back against the seat. “Well, that was a waste of time.”
The officer looks back in the rearview mirror. “We’re trying to trace the man you saw.”
He nods to the window, and when I glance out, the club is emptying. Hundreds of students shiver on the street in the freezing cold.
“If Jake is there, he’ll be found,” the officer says.
Right, like Jake would file out of the club with everyone else. He’s probably long gone. But we can hope for the best.