by Bella Jewel
“Excuse me?” I ask, leaning back and meeting his eyes as he pauses and glances at me.
“You’re not goin’ into no station and questioning a cop that could be dirty, that’s likely got your sister, and is very clearly dangerous. That ain’t somethin’ I’m good with.”
“It’s not really your choice,” I point out. “She’s my sister, I’ll do what I want.”
“You want the club’s help, you’ll fuckin’ stay in line.”
“My god, you’re such a dick.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Samson mutters from the table. “You two are like a bunch of fuckin’ school kids. You are goin’ to talk this shit out so we can carry on with findin’ Mag’s without the drama. Hash it out, scream at each other, and then get the fuck over it.”
I purse my lips and Alarick gets back to work without answering.
“Fuck me,” Cohen grunts. “Bunch of babies, you fuckers.”
“Enough,” Alarick orders. “Back to figurin’ out what we’re goin’ to do about this cop.”
“We’ll look into it,” Cohen murmurs. “One way or another, we’ll figure out if he’s dirty. I’ll start askin’ about. See what comes out of it.”
“I’m going to keep asking questions,” I say. “I’m not giving up on my sister, she could be in danger and the longer we wait, the harder this is going to be.”
“Morning, everyone!”
Joanne walks through the front doors, looking gorgeous and vibrant. She’s followed by her boyfriend, Tatum, who I met yesterday. He’s hot and super friendly. I really like both of them and Joanne has some incredible tattoos she’s done. If I were to get one, I know who I’d go to. Although Alarick is utterly incredible and talented so I’m certain it would be a hard choice.
“Hey, Jo,” I smile, waving. “Hi, Tatum!”
“Hiya, chicky, how’s the hunt for Magnolia going?” Joanne asks, walking over to her station and setting up for the day.
“It’s not going all that well at the moment, but we’re going to find her, I’m sure of it.”
“Well, let us know if you need anything. Callie and Tanner are super swift with finding out information, I’m sure they’d love to help.”
Callie is Jo’s best friend and her boyfriend, Tanner, is Tatum’s best friend. Go figure. I don’t know their history, but I know they haven’t lived here too long and all of them have been through quite a bit together judging by what Jo has told me. Either way, they’re amazing people and it only makes it harder and harder for me to consider leaving this place. These people are my friends and I’m remembering how good it felt to live here.
Until everything went bad.
“What do you know about Constable Bennett?” Alarick asks Tatum, who walks over and stares down at Samson’s incredible tattoo.
“Heard of him, don’t know a great deal. I do know a girl that works at the station, though. Met her through work, she’s a good chick. Be happy to ask her.”
“What’s her name?” Alarick asks, slowly and carefully dragging the needle across Samson’s skin.
“Zariah Malvoy. She’s only young, but she’s a detective. Fuckin’ smart girl. Worth having a chat to her.”
“Cops and us don’t usually get along,” Alarick points out. “We do illegal shit; they don’t like illegal shit.”
“Don’t have to tell her it’s info for the club,” Tatum points out. “Happily tell her I’m lookin’ for someone.”
“I’ll come with you,” I say. “She might know something about Magnolia.”
Alarick pauses again and looks up at me. “What part of you not doin’ shit outside the club are you not gettin’?”
I roll my eyes and look back at Tatum. “Let me know when you’re going to see her.”
Tatum nods, and glances at Jo. “Gotta run, baby. Pick you up this afternoon?”
“You got it.” She smiles, leaning forward and kissing him.
He disappears out the door and I turn and clap my hands together. “Well, I better get going. Karen and I have a lunch date and then we’re going to see if we can find out anything else about Magnolia.”
“You’re hangin’ out with Karen still?” Alarick asks, not looking at me, but back at Samson’s skin.
“Yes, so?”
“I fuck her.”
“And?”
He stops again and glances at me. “Nothin’.”
I swallow and turn, giving Jo a big smile and saying goodbye to the others before heading out the front door.
When I get outside, I glance back at the studio and exhale.
It feels like I never left.
It feels like this is still home.
It is all getting a little too familiar again.
I need to find Magnolia and get out of here.
Before I find it hard to ever leave again.
“SO, WHAT WE’VE GOT so far is that Magnolia has been talking to a cop, at least, we think he’s a cop. They think she has been messing with drugs but you think that’s just a cover up, her car was on the side of the road and she’s missing, and we know she was staying at The Inn but seemingly disappeared really quickly. Is that about right?” Karen asks, sipping her coffee and staring at me.
I exhale. “That’s about it so far. I just don’t know how to piece all of this together. They all say Magnolia was dealing with drugs, but that just doesn’t seem like her. She’s smart with that kind of stuff, she always has been. I know everyone said she ran off the rails and was going downhill, but it still doesn’t make a great deal of sense.”
“What if we’re looking at this all wrong?” Karen points out. “What if Magnolia was helping this cop? What if he’s not a dirty cop at all, but was in fact using her to get information on someone, and that someone found out?”
I never considered that.
“Go on,” I say, intrigued.
“Let’s say Magnolia was in with the wrong crowd for a bit, maybe she got into trouble and to avoid punishment agreed to help bring these people down. It happens quite a lot for lighter sentences. Perhaps she was getting information to the cop and someone found out and took her. It would all piece together a lot cleaner than to think he’s a dirty cop. I think it’s worth going and trying to find him and telling him who you are. If he’s dirty, it’s a risk, but if he’s clean, he might just be able to give you some information.”
She’s right, that makes a great deal of sense. If that is the case, we could be going down the wrong road and wasting time.
“If we go to the cops, do you think they’ll want to get involved?” I ask, hesitating. “If that’s the case, it’s going to cause problems for the club, and to really delve into that dark world, we need the club. It’s a really tricky situation.”
Karen nods. “I think if we just ask questions, we should be safe. We just have to be careful about how much we give away.”
“You’re right,” I nod. “Any chance you feel like a trip to the police station?”
“Yep.”
We both stand and pay for our order, leaving a tip, before walking out to her car. She drives us to the local police station and we both get out, heading inside. I’m nervous, and I feel like I could be making a big mistake here, yet I know I can’t just sit around and do nothing. The longer I wait the longer it’s going to take for Magnolia to be found. She could be in any sort of danger right now, and I can’t live with myself if something happens to her because I was too late.
“Can I help you?” an older lady asks when we step through the front doors.
“Yes, we were wondering if Constable Bennett was here, by chance?” Karen asks, her voice professional and light.
She’s so damned good at this.
“Yes, he is. Do you have an appointment with him?”
“No, we don’t, but we’d like to see him if he’s not too busy. Is that okay?”
The woman nods and tells us she’ll go and ask him. We take a seat and wait. I fidget just a little, because I’m nervous and worried I’m doing the
wrong thing here.
A moment later a man in maybe his late thirties walks out. He’s really good looking, with dark blond hair, light blue eyes, and a strong jaw. He’s tall, well-built and looks like he can handle himself fairly well.
“Can I help you?” he asks, staring at Karen and me.
“Yes, hi,” Karen says, standing. “I’m Karen and this is my friend Briella. We were wondering if we could have a word with you in private. It’s quite important.”
He studies us for a moment, and then nods and we follow him to his office when he ushers us through.
His office is small, but not crampy. He sits down at his large, brown oak desk and we take a seat on the other side. I glance over at him, taking him in and wondering if he really is crooked. I mean, it’s hard to tell. He looks like a pretty nice guy, but then you can never be too sure about anyone.
“How can I help you, ladies?” he asks.
“We were wondering if you might happen to know where Magnolia is. We have been looking for her with no luck.”
Karen doesn’t ask him if he knows Magnolia, nor does she ask him how he knows Magnolia, she just goes right in as if there is no doubt in her mind, no question at all. It’s clever and it’s enough to have him jerk back just a little, like he’s surprised we’re mentioning that name.
“Magnolia?” he asks, acting a little surprised.
“Yes, Magnolia. We’re aware she was dealing with you, and it’s been quite some time since we’ve heard from her. Mostly we just want to know if she’s okay.”
He tips his head to the side and frowns, then looks over to me. “I haven’t seen her for about a week.”
Well, that’s a hell of a lot sooner than the last time we saw her.
“Would you mind sharing where she was?” Karen asks. “It has been a few weeks since any of us have heard from her.”
“I ran into her in town, she was at the store. If you’re concerned for her wellbeing, I’d suggest releasing a missing person’s report?” he suggests.
“At this stage, we’re not going to be doing that, but we know she’s been dealing with some bad people. We thought perhaps she might have been working with you to help bring those people to justice.”
Jesus she’s good.
Bennett purses his lips and murmurs, “Is that what she told you?”
“Something like that.” Karen shrugs.
“She was helping me; however, I got the information needed and, as far as I knew, she was well on her way to going about her business. If you give me some more information, I’m happy to look into it for you.”
“What was she helping you with?” I ask, finally speaking.
He looks to me. “Have we met?”
“I’m her sister,” I point out.
He seems shocked by this, too. “That so,” he murmurs to himself. “Well, she was helping me with some information after I charged her for possession of cocaine a few months back. It was that or she would be facing trial. She agreed to help me, gave me some information about the people she was buying and dealing through, and that was the end of it.”
So, Karen was right.
“Is there a chance those people have come after her, or found out?” I push further.
“That’s always a risk, yes. It’s also just a likely she went back into that lifestyle and is choosing not to be found. People often find it hard to break such habits.”
“My sister is not a drug user, if she was doing that, there was a reason for it, and I’m going to find out that reason,” I snap, frustrated that he’s basically saying she’s dropped herself down the rabbit hole again.
“Listen, I have no idea what Magnolia chose to do after she finished helping me. Our relationship was very short and basic.”
“Then why was there a note from you in the hotel she was staying at?” I question, blood pumping, heart racing.
“It wasn’t from me,” he says calmly. “I don’t know where Magnolia is, but as I said I’m happy to file a missing person’s report and investigate the situation.”
I stand, shaking my head. This is getting us nowhere. “Someone has my sister, and I’m going to find out who. Thanks for your help, Constable.”
I spin on my heel and walk out.
Karen follows along behind me.
Once we’re outside, I turn to her and she crosses her arms. “You let your emotions get the better of you then, honey,” she says, her voice tight but not angry.
“I just feel like everyone we come across is hiding something. Like every single person is lying in one way or another. I just don’t know who to believe anymore.”
“Without upsetting you here, is there a chance that Magnolia is dealing in drugs and did go back? I know you think she isn’t, but what if you’re wrong. Something might have happened that sent her down that path. It happens to the best of us.”
I go to shake my head, but then I exhale and say, “I honestly don’t know, and I think that’s what bothers me more. I don’t know and the idea of not knowing if my sister went down that path makes me feel like I’ve failed her. I should have noticed ...”
Karen stops and reaches over, grabbing my shoulder, her eyes sympathetic. “Do you know how many families have said that same thing? Gosh, I could list them to you. It’s not your fault if that’s the path Magnolia took, please don’t think it is.”
I nod, but I’m not overly convinced.
“Let’s just see what we can find out from here, okay?”
I nod again.
I hope we’re doing the right thing here.
I really, really do.
13
THEN – BRIELLA
“Seriously, though, my dad has the best alcohol in his study,” Aviana says, her grin wide and mischievous. “Are you up for sneaking some?”
I laugh, already half drunk. “Yep, let’s do that.”
“He won’t be home for a little bit, I think we have time to get some.”
We rush into Aviana’s dad’s study and start shuffling around. I know one thing is for sure, Avi is not allowed in this room. Her dad makes it very clear that her and her friends should never come in here, but we’re teenaged girls, and I’m fairly certain we have forgotten how to follow rules.
Tonight, we’re going out to a friend’s party, but not before we got ready here and prepared for the night, which means drinking until our heart’s content. Of course, we’re not supposed to drink at all, but once again, the teenaged thing comes into play, right?
“Do you think your dad will notice if this stuff goes missing?” I ask Avi as we find two bottles of whiskey that look super expensive.
“Well, this one already has half taken out, so I don’t think he’ll notice if we have a few drinks out of it. I doubt he’s checking the level every time he puts it back in.”
“True,” I giggle as we use his shot glasses and line them up on his desk, filling them with the whiskey and shooting them back.
“We’d be so dead for being in here.” Avi giggles. “God, he doesn’t even know I’m home. As far as he knows, I’m at your place and we’re going to be there all night. Not that he cares, as long as I’m not ruining his reputation, he doesn’t give a crap about me and where I am.”
I feel bad that Avi lives like that. I know it hurts her, how could it not? She has no family, none that care about her anyway. She’s stuck with a father that is more interested in his sons and that’s it. She lives basically alone in this big house.
“Well, I give a crap about you, which is why I’m totally here drinking this with you,” I say, pouring another glass for us both.
A door slams just outside and Avi’s head whips around. “Shit. He’s home. Shit.”
We shove the whiskey back into the drawer and put the shot glasses into our pockets. We’re about to run out but the door handle twists. Avi grabs my arm and jerks me toward the huge sofa in the room, and we duck down behind it. Oh my god, we’re totally dead if he sees us in here, and yet there seems to be no way to get out o
f here. Dammit, what were we thinking?
“Be quiet,” Avi says, her eyes wide and frightened.
I nod and reach into my pocket to turn my phone on silent before shuffling as close to the back of the sofa as I can to ensure that nobody sees me. Avi presses herself close, too, and then we sit and listen.
“Make the call,” I hear Avi’s dad order to someone, I’m assuming her brothers. “This has gone very fuckin’ bad. What the fuck were you thinking?”
“You told me what to do,” Avi’s brother Rory growls. “I was following orders.”
“I never fuckin’ said to steal it,” her father hisses. “I said to fuckin’ make it disappear. That means without anyone knowin’ it was you.”
“Didn’t know anyone would be there,” her other brother, Manny, mutters. “It wasn’t how we planned it to go.”
“Well now you’ve fucked up and shit is goin’ to get real bad.”
I look to Avi, and she looks confused and a little taken aback. Her family is obviously up to something dangerous, by the sounds of their conversation, and I’m guessing by the look on her face she had no idea they were dealing in anything illegal. Which is exactly what it sounds like they’re doing.
The sound of a door slamming has my heart skipping a beat. Booted footsteps can be heard coming down the hall.
“Get out of here,” Avi’s dad orders.
To who, I do not know.
“Tell King he’ll get his fuckin’ drugs, now leave my house.”
Whoever is there doesn’t say a damned word. They’re a silent person, someone who is here in regard to King. Is it King? Is it Alarick? Is it someone else from the club? I don’t understand. What do they even have to do with Avi’s family? What is going on?
“What do you want?” her dad goes on, his voice a little worried. “You want your drugs back? You can fuckin’ have them. Leave me and my sons out of this. Do you want revenge? Take it out on me? What the fuck do you want? Speak!”
I look to Avi, and she turns and stares at me, her expression scared. I mouth ‘King’ and she shrugs her shoulders, like she’s confused. Then she shuffles quietly toward the side of the sofa so she can glance around it. I try to stop her, but I can’t call her name and I can’t reach her. I wave a hand, but she doesn’t stop. She peers around.
