by Amber Lacie
“Anne? What did I ever do to you? We were friends, Anne. None of this makes any sense.” My cheek stings, as my head whips to the side. Why do they have to answer everything so forcefully?
“Your boyfriend came into the picture. I was left behind, and then you took my job. I was out on my ass with nothing to show for my years of hard work. Then our friend, Benjamin shows up and tells me that he has been wanting to get back at you for a while. Apparently, you’ve made things rough for him over the past couple of years. We both wanted revenge. Getting back at your boyfriend for ruining my plans for my career is just a bonus. Now, Ben may have taken it a little bit farther than I wanted, but we are here now. It’s not really like we can go back. So…what do I do with you now?”
“We end it, that’s what we fucking do.”
“Benjamin, shut up!” Her voice shakes and I know that she is flustered. Maybe I can sway her, bring her around to letting me go.
“Anne, please, you’re my friend.”
“Friend? A friend doesn’t forget you exist. A friend doesn’t turn her back on you, and then hang you out to dry while she parties with the boss’s kid.”
“It’s not like that.”
“No? Your boyfriend’s dad buys the business we work for, and then suddenly I was out of a job and you took the position I worked so hard for. Sounds fishy, doesn’t it? Did Theron get a kick out of knowing he ruined someone else’s life?”
I try to shake my head, but the smallest movements are followed by an intense throbbing. “No. He didn’t know. I didn’t know.”
“What? I got emails, Eve. Emails and messages going between you and Bridgette. You knew. I read them all. Ben, what is she talking about?”
“Don’t listen to her, Anne. She’s lying.”
My mouth is so dry that I swallow and lick my lips. As I take a deep breath trying to gather my nerves, I feel a pinch in my side. “I didn’t know. Bridgette and Thomas set it all up—” Before I could even finish my thoughts, my head is yanked to the side by my hair. “Shut the fuck up.” Ben’s grip in my hair tightens and I can’t pull away from him. Fuck him, and fuck her. I never did anything to either of them. Anne was my friend. We hung out and cried over boys together. We rented movies and gorged on Chinese. This isn’t my friend, this isn’t Anne.
“They will be looking for me. He will find me. Then what will you two do, where will you run?”
A ghastly scream rips from my chest, as something slams into my left knee. White lights flash behind my eyelids. My leg is throbbing. They are talking, but I can’t make out their words. The only thought that I can hold onto is knowing Anne and I were never really friends. I feel light, as darkness claims me once again.
I can hear water. The sound of waves washing against the shore and seagulls fill my ears. I know this is a dream. I should wake up, but this is so much better than my reality. Sitting up, I realize that I am alone on the beach. It is serine and peaceful. Contentment fills me. I feel at ease. I watch the soft waves kiss the shore and it is such a sweet greeting. It’s gentle and loving. The water kisses the shore, and the shore returns with a sweet kiss of her own, gently giving away a little piece of herself each time they meet.
I can smell him. My body buzzes with electricity, letting me know that he is close. I can’t see Theron, but his words are light and heavenly in my ears.
“You’ve been sleeping for a while, beautiful.”
“I know. I don’t want to go back. Please, don’t make me.”
His laughter fills the air around us. “When have I ever been able to make you do anything you didn’t want to? If you need to stay here for a few more minutes, it’s okay, but don’t stay too long. I need you to come back to me. I love you.”
“I love you, too. I’ll see you soon.”
The current running through my body dies out and I know that I am alone again. It’s okay. I lose myself in the calmness of my surroundings, once again.
My phone buzzes. It’s Eve. I am not sure what happened exactly, but Olivia is leaving on an emergency. The idea of her being alone, sends a chill down my spine. “Gentleman, I’m sorry, but we will have to reconvene at another time. My lawyer has all of the details, if you have any questions, please deal with him or my personal assistant directly. I have an urgent matter that I need to attend to. If you’ll excuse me. Evan, if you’ll come with me.”
Looks of confusion spread across the boardroom, but I don’t give a shit. If Eve needs me, then that is where I need to be. Evan follows me, he knows that something isn’t right.
“Sir?”
“Evan, I need you to follow me. Gather who you need to keep a perimeter. Eve is alone at the bookstore, and something feels off. I’m heading over there now to pick her up. Follow me, but stay far enough back, so that it’s not obvious. We know that Thomas isn’t behind this. With what took place this morning, I know that he isn’t involved. He may be an asshole, but he’s easy to read. The look of shock on his face this morning when I questioned him about the notes, wasn’t fake. Someone else is out there watching her. God damn it!” I slam my fist through the wall. Why didn’t I force her to come with me? Why didn’t I send Evan over there when I found out Thomas wasn’t involved? “I’ve put her life at risk. If something happens to her, I won’t ever be able to forgive myself.”
Evan doesn’t flinch when I punch my fist through the wall a second time. He nods his head at me and follows me, as I head out to my car. I race through town. He stays right behind me, even when I blow through two red lights. Once we get close to the bookstore, Evan falls back. I park directly in front of the store.
As I get out, everything looks normal. I turn the handle on the door, the lock clicking quietly in my hand, as I push it open. I barely hear the sound of the bells, as I take in my surroundings. There’s a shelf knocked over by the cash register. I immediately take out my phone and call Evan. “Evan. Get here now. I don’t care what you have to do, but fucking get here now. Bring the police with you. The fucking store is trashed.” I end the call before he can ask any questions.
Fear and adrenaline race through me. My heart pumps so hard in my chest, I think I might be having a heart attack. Carefully, I step around the bookcase. I am trying to be as quiet as possible. I don’t want to alert anyone to my presence. Books are scattered across the floor. I notice something smeared on the floor, bending down to take another look, I realize that it’s blood. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I scream her name as loud as I can. Finding my feet, I run to the back of the store, there is a thin line of blood smeared across the floor, leading from the back door. They took her. My knees go weak beneath me and I fall to the floor. Everything that I live for has been taken from me, it was taken through the door.
“Theron! Where the hell are you, man? I got the detectives on the way. Theron!”
I can hear Evan calling for me, but I don’t have words to answer him with. Anger, hatred, and guilt seep into my soul like black tar, completely consuming me. I stand, as Evan walks through the door, halting to a stop, as he sees me.
“I know you have connections, Evan. I’ve never asked about your life before we met. I don’t want to know what unholy things you’ve seen, but I want you to find her. Do what you need to do. Anything you need. Do it. I don’t care who you kill or who you buy off. You fucking find her, and you bring her home to me.”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll leave now. The detectives should be here any minute. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you not to touch anything. They will need everything as it is.”
“No you don’t. Find her.”
Evan leaves me to my guilt. Why is she so stubborn? All that I wanted to do was love and protect her. My head hangs low in defeat. I am vaguely aware of someone approaching me from behind. My body reacts on instinct, as I stand and turn to face the person and make myself known.
Detective Markz, holds both of his hands up in front of his chest. I suppose this gesture is supposed to calm me, letting me know that he is not there to hurt me. It doesn’t m
atter. I have already died a thousand times since I got here.
“I have my team in here. We are collecting all the evidence that we can. I’m going to need you to come with me, so we can clear the scene and let our CSI unit do their job.” My stomach rolls and fear eats away at my insides, as I follow him out of the store. I give him a detailed description of everything that I know and what I have seen leading up to the time they got here.
“Her family needs to be notified, but we need to keep things as calm as possible right now.”
“They can stay with me. I have room for them. I’d like us all to be together, so that we can all be notified at the same time of any news.”
“I’ll let them know your wishes. The head of your security is the one who placed the call, but I fail to see him here now. Why is that?”
“He’s doing as instructed. I told him to find her. He’s ex-military. He’s using his skills and connections, just as you are. That’s all you need to know.”
“I should warn you that anything illegal is ill advised.”
“And I should warn you. Money can buy anything. Legalities are not of my concern right now. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my place and ready myself for her family.”
Fucking cops. I get that he has to do his job, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t do my own investigation. I ease out of my parking space and take my time driving through town. Once I hit the back roads, my foot finds the gas pedal and I don’t ease up until I’m in front of the house.
I had Rebecca turn down the other rooms upstairs. I doubt anyone will sleep, but I want to have the option. I am pacing in my office, when I hear the doorbell ring. My stomach drops, as I try to think of what I am supposed to say. What reassurance can I give them? I have taken their only daughter and played recklessly with her life. I take a deep breath, as the doorbell rings again. Rebecca answers it before I can make it down the stairs.
As I hit the last step, I am greeted with devastated faces. Phillip is holding up Eve’s mom with his arms around her waist. She is limp and her face is streaked with makeup. Robert steps in behind them and his face is hard like stone. His eyes are radiating hatred towards me. I don’t blame him. I hate myself as well. “I was hoping we could all meet in the library. It’s Eve’s favorite room and I’d like to be as close to her as possible.”
Phillip gives me a nod of his head and her family follows me down the hallway. He sets Linda down in a leather chair by one of the windows. He doesn’t leave her side, his hands rest firmly on her shoulders. I can’t imagine what they feel right now. Robert won’t stop moving. He is pacing furiously back and forth in front of the fireplace. I have no words to offer them. I drop myself onto another leather chair, letting my head fall into my hands. All of my hope lies on Evan. God knows that he will have info before the police do.
The doorbell rings again, and I lift my head looking towards the door.
“I had Robert call, Kayla. It is only fair for her to be here. She’s like a sister to Eve.”
I nod my head in response and once again, words fail me. Kayla rushes into the room with Paul slowly following behind her. I am surprised when she rushes to me and not to Eve’s parents.
“Theron, please, tell me you know something. Tell me you have a lead on this.”
I turn my head away from her, I don’t know anything. I have nothing to offer her.
“God damn it, Theron! You fucking look at me! Tell me you aren’t just sitting here waiting for the police to find her.”
“No. I sent Evan for her. If anyone is going to find her, it’s him, not the police.”
“Thank fuck. Has he called?”
“Whoa! Everyone stop right there. Who the fuck is Evan and why the hell do you think he can find my sister. What the fuck are you trying to pull? What aren’t you telling us?”
“Evan is ex-military. They retired him with honors after his last mission. He is head of my security now. He’s using his skills and contacts to find her. His means at finding information aren’t exactly legal, but he will find her.”
“This is all fucked up. You’re fucked up! If it wouldn’t have been for you and your crazy dysfunctional family, my sister wouldn’t be missing right now.” Robert is screaming at me. I take everything he has to throw at me. I am caught off guard, as he rushes at me, hitting me square in the jaw. I fly back into my chair, falling to the ground, but I don’t get up. I allow him to continuously pound me into the ground. Phillip and Paul run to his sides, yelling at him to stop, but he doesn’t and I don’t try to stop him. They grab him by the shoulders, dragging him off me.
“Robert. That’s enough. Beating a broken man isn’t going to bring her back. Can’t you see he’s dying without her right now? You and I both know that we can’t stop Eve from doing whatever she has set her mind to. You can’t blame him for that.”
I push myself to my feet, grabbing my jaw. Shit that hurts. “I know she’s missing because of me. Don’t you think that I know that? I hate myself. All we can do is wait. Either the detectives or Evan will let us know when they have something. Until then, all we can do is wait.” I set my chair back up on its legs. Glancing at the table beside me, I notice Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland laying on the table. My fingers brush its spine. Holding it up, I inspect it. As I turn the pages, I can smell the draw of the pages pulling me in. Now, I get why she smells the books. A soft smile plays on my lips, as I remember finding her in here, sniffing one of the books, as she sat in the chair. It fades quickly, leaving my heart feeling empty and hollow. I will die without her.
“That’s her favorite.” Linda sniffs and I look over at her. She wipes her nose again and nods to the book in my hands. “That’s her favorite. She can recite most of it word for word.”
I hand the book over to Eve’s mom, as my phone rings. The whole room is silent. No one breathes as I answer it.
“Theron...Fucking Christ! When was the last visual on him? Okay, have them run everything on him…run her too…Fuck, Evan. She knew them…Find her. Call me when you fucking find her. Do you hear me? Fuck the God, damn police! I don’t give a shit, you fucking call me first!” I am furious. Anger penetrates through my body. I drop my phone onto the table, and my eyes meet Kayla’s. None of this makes any sense. Kayla walks to me and places her hand on my arm. I can’t look away from her.
“Kayla…I don’t…I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Just tell me.”
“Did you work with a Benjamin Harper?”
“Yes. Tell me it isn’t him. No, no, no. It can be him. Why would he do this?”
“My question for you Kayla, is why Anne would be with him?”
“What?” Kayla’s legs fall out from underneath her and I catch her in my arms. Paul grabs her from me and carries her over to the sofa. Eve’s family is staring at me, wanting answers and all I have for them is more questions.
“Evan was able to gain access to the security footage from one of the buildings across the street. There was a suspicious car stopping in front of the building letting out a man, and then it drove away. He ran the plates and they belong to a Benjamin Harper. His informants say that Ben used to work with Eve. There was also a female they were able to capture a visual of driving the car. They believe it to be Eve’s friend, Anne. He is alerting the police of what he has found now. He is putting a price on Ben’s head. It won’t be long before he messes up. Someone will see him or recognize him.”
“A price? Like the fucking mob? How can you do that?”
I turn, facing Robert. Ice flows through my voice as I whisper harshly into the air, “Money can buy anything, even people.”
It has been an hour since I have heard from Evan. It is just past seven o’clock. The sun is starting to set. The fear of the night and darkness eat at me. Rebecca has brought us drinks and some snacks over the past couple of hours. The food has barely been touched, but we’ve run out of coffee twice. The room is quiet and the tension is palpable in the air. My phone rings, every feeling
of hope that I am holding onto rushes to the surface. I swallow twice to find my voice, as I answer the phone.
“Theron…Thank fuck…Don’t move unless you have to. You wait until I get there. Inform your men. Anyone who so much as touches her before I get there will be personally eliminated by me. I mean it, Evan. You wait for me, unless you don’t have a choice. Do I make myself clear? Good.”
I run my hands through my hair, taking a deep breath I turn to face her family. “Evan found her. Ben has her locked up in a house on the other side of town that he is renting under a fake name. They don’t have any visuals on her yet, but they believe her to be either in the basement or attic. They have visuals on Anne and Ben, but nothing on Eve, yet. I am going there now. Phillip, Robert, you may join me if you like. Paul stay here with Kayla and Linda. I don’t want to risk anymore lives, if I don’t have to.”
Robert grabs my arm, as I walk away. “What will you do when you find her?”
“I’ll take her home with me, where she belongs.”
“And when you find Ben?”
“For his sake, I hope the police beat me there. I plan on killing him.”
A warm breeze blows across my skin, I am back on the beach again, and I find myself sitting on a dock with my toes just barely in the water.
“Have you decided, yet?”
I turn my head, and my heart breaks, knowing this is only a dream. “I thought that you left me. Didn’t we already say our goodbyes?”
“We did, but I think you need me now. Are you going to go to him?”
“Yes, I’m just not ready, yet. I’m so tired, Matt. I can’t find the strength to open my eyes. I don’t want this to be real. I want to wake up warm and safe in my bed. What if when I wake up, everything I had is gone? What if I don’t get to see him again?”
