Don't Forget Me

by Stacy Claflin

  “Is he a suspect?”

  “I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”

  Walter frowned. “Like I said, I never really knew the guy. I wasn’t there long. It was just an internship for college.”

  “How long were you there?”

  “A year. Well, nine months—a school year.”

  Nick nodded, keeping his expression vague. “What did other people say about him?”

  Walter swallowed. “I don’t know. It was a long time ago.”

  “You said he was in management. I know those types. Did he like to lord it over people? He probably stepped on some toes to get where he was. That’s how it works.”

  “Well, I suppose. Come to think of it, there were some guys in the mailroom who couldn’t stand him. Said he was a real jerk. I don’t remember any details.”

  Nick studied Genevieve’s dad. If what he said was true, he would quickly be removed from their list.

  “What are you thinking? I get the feeling I need a lawyer.”

  “No. We’re done for now. In the meantime, stick closer to home and keep your phone off airplane mode in case we need to ask you any more questions. That’s the best thing you can do for yourself at this point.”

  “Sure thing. Sorry about that.”

  “It could happen to anyone.” Nick rose, then something tugged on his line. He turned to Walter. “I thought the fish weren’t biting today.”

  “You’re a luckier fisherman than me, Captain.”

  Exhausted

  Alex pulled up to the curb in front of his future in-laws’ home and took a deep breath. Physical Training had been rough—twice as long and three times as challenging.

  He’d been tempted to stay at the academy to sleep, but he couldn’t because it was Friday. Also, he’d promised Ariana another visit. She was used to him being there every day after school, but that wasn’t possible with the rigorous schedule as a cadet living over fifty miles away.

  Tap, tap!

  Alex glanced over at the passenger side window.

  Ari stood there, waving and smiling.

  A little energy ran through him. Not much, but enough to pull him out of the car.

  “You made it!” Ariana ran around and threw her arms around him.

  He embraced her and kissed the top of her head. “You sound surprised.”

  Ari shrugged. “Mimi said you might be tired.”

  “I told you I’d be here, and I meant it.”

  She stepped back. “Come see what I’ve added to my science project!”

  “Let’s see it.” Alex shut his door and remote-locked the car. He followed her as she bounced up the driveway.

  At the door, she turned around. “Oh, and Scout’s here. Seems like he wants to see you.”

  “How’s he doing?” Alex wasn’t sure how much his daughter knew, but her boyfriend had recently witnessed some murders and Alex had been there right after to comfort the boy. Since then, the two had developed a strong, but mostly unspoken, bond.

  “He’s good.” Ariana smiled. “He’s helping me paint the box part of my project.”

  Alex waved to Kenji and Valerie, who were watching a baseball game on the TV. They both waved back, then Kenji shouted at the screen. He’d been a professional baseball player in Japan and took the game seriously.

  At the kitchen table, Scout was hunched over a box, painting it neon green.

  “My dad’s here,” Ariana announced. “I’m going to run up to my room and grab those charts I was telling you about. I think I need to fix that one part.” She spun around and disappeared before her boyfriend could respond.

  Scout set the brush down and glanced up at Alex. “Hi, Mr. Mercer.”

  “You make me feel ancient. I’m serious when I say to call me Alex.”

  “My parents said that’s rude. You’re an adult.”

  Alex leaned closer. “Maybe they’re ancient.”

  Scout chuckled.

  “But don’t tell them I said that.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Then call me Alex. You can call me Mr. Mercer in front of them. Deal?” Alex held out his hand.

  Scout smiled and shook. “Deal.”

  Alex shook his hand out. “Ouch. You’ve got quite the grip.”

  Scout shook his head and laughed.

  They both grabbed a brush and painted the box without speaking for a minute.

  “How are you doing?” Alex kept his gaze on the box.

  Scout sighed. “I’m still having nightmares. I see the blood spray on the window over and over. It doesn’t stop.”

  “You’re still seeing a therapist?”

  “Yeah. Not that it’s helping much. He wants to medicate me, but my parents don’t want that.”

  Alex glanced at him. “What do you want?”

  Scout shrugged. “Mom says the medications make people sleep a lot, and they could mess up my brain chemistry. What do you think?”

  “I don’t know anything about that. I’ve heard both good things and bad things about side effects of antidepressants. They might help you be able to deal with what you saw, then you could stop taking them later. But like I said, I don’t really know. My sister could probably tell you more. She’s a counselor, and I think she took some antidepressants for a while.”

  “That might help. I don’t want them to change me. My cousin was on some for a while, and they ruined her eyesight. Now she has to wear glasses for the rest of her life. That sucks. She never even knew that was something that could happen. The doctor didn’t tell her it was a rare side effect until after.”

  Alex set his brush down. “Sounds like you might have your answer.”

  “I guess.” Scout took a deep breath. “I hate the nightmares, though.”

  “How are you getting by during the day?”

  “Tired but okay. It helps that we’re not at the same school building. I don’t have to pass that spot where it happened.” He shuddered.

  “That sounds good. Have you tried journaling?”

  Scout shook his head.

  “Try it. That helped me when my sister was kidnapped. You can get all your anger and worries out without having to tell anyone how you actually feel. It’s all a secret.”

  He looked like he was considering it.

  Ding-dong!

  “Scout, your dad’s here!” Kenji called.

  Ariana bounced down the stairs with an armful of papers. She dumped them on the table, then took Scout’s hand and walked with him to the door.

  Alex watched the two, his heart warming. It reminded him of when he and Zoey had first admitted their feelings for each other.

  With any luck, Scout and Ari wouldn’t make the same mistakes he and Zoey had made. Not just getting pregnant, but also smoking, drinking, and sneaking out. He didn’t want to see Ariana go down that path.

  Alex shuddered. He felt bad for what he’d put his parents through. But they hadn’t known the half of it. The pregnancy had been a total shock. But that was when Macy was missing, so they were beyond distracted.

  Scout kissed the back of Ariana’s hand, then disappeared out the door. She waved and closed it before returning to the kitchen.

  “What do you think of the green? Is it too bright?”

  “It’s eye-catching. I think it’s perfect.”

  “Oh, good!” She clapped. “Hey, Grandma and Grandpa called. They made pie and have ice cream. Wanna go over there?” Ari pleaded with her eyes, making it impossible for him to say no.

  “Sure. Let’s go. Do they know I’m here?”

  She threw her arms around him. “Yeah. They saw your car out front.”

  That explained the call. He hadn’t seen his parents in over a week, despite coming next door to see Ariana so often. “Let’s clear the table first.”

  Ari pouted. “But there’s pie next door. Grandma’s special cherry pie.”

  Alex’s mouth watered at the thought. “You don’t think Mimi will mind the messy table?”

  “Just go!” Va
lerie called from the other room.

  “See?” Ari threw him a playful glance.

  Alex’s phone beeped with a text. “Must be Grandma.”

  He glanced down to check.

  It wasn’t his mom. The text was from an unknown number.

  Unknown: Flynn wants to see you.

  Texts

  Alex stared at his phone’s screen, trying not to reveal his shock and other raging emotions from the mysterious and ominous text.

  “Come on, Dad.” Ari pulled on his arm. “The dessert.”

  He shoved the phone in his pocket and forced a smile. “Wouldn’t want to miss that.”

  She dragged him down the hallway and to the door.

  “Are you going somewhere?” Kenji asked as they passed the living room.

  “Grandma made pie!” Ariana opened the door. “And for some reason Dad doesn’t seem interested.”

  “He looks exhausted,” Kenji said. “You can sleep here if you need to, Alex. I know you have your old room next door, but you’re always welcome here.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.” Alex threw him an appreciative glance before Ari yanked him outside.

  As they crossed the yards, the sweet aroma of the pie drifted their way.

  “Do you smell that?” Ariana tugged him toward his parents’ house.

  “I think the whole neighborhood can.” His mouth watered, but as delicious as it smelled, it wasn’t enough to make him forget the text.

  Flynn wanted to see him? In jail or somewhere else? The man was somehow able to walk around free while at the same time being in prison across the state.

  Ariana pulled him to the front door and swung it open. “We’re here!”

  Alex’s mom poked her head over the railing at the top of the stairs and smiled. “Perfect timing! Ice cream with your slices?”

  “Of course.” Ariana grinned. “Let me help.”

  She ran up the stairs while Alex trudged up, his legs feeling like lead weights. His old bedroom actually sounded pretty good.

  By the time he reached the kitchen, Ariana was already scooping vanilla ice cream onto the plates.

  Mom wrapped her arms around him. “How are you doing? It looks like they’ve been running you ragged.”

  “It’s no boot camp, but yeah. I can’t tell you how glad I am it’s the weekend. I could sleep for both days.”

  Ari turned around, her eyes filled with disappointment. “You’re going to sleep all weekend?”

  He shook his head. “No, but I could. Easily.” He yawned, as if to prove his point.

  Mom smiled. “Your room is always here if you need it. Sleep here tonight, then go home tomorrow if you want. We always love the company.”

  “I may just take you up on that.”

  Both she and Ariana grinned.

  Alex helped them set up the table, then his dad came in. “It’s our favorite cadet!”

  “Do you know any others?”

  “No, but you’re still our favorite. It’s great to see you.” He gave Alex a bear hug.

  They made small talk over pie and ice cream. The adults drank coffee, and Ariana had hot cocoa.

  Alex tried to push the text out of his mind, but he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Running into Flynn the night before had to have been on purpose. It couldn’t have been an accident.

  Not with the text.

  “Alex?” His mom’s voice brought him back to the kitchen.

  He shook his head. “Sorry. I’m tired.”

  “You look like you have a lot on your mind.” She gave him a sympathetic smile. “Anything we can do?”

  “No. This is great. Dessert with family. What more could I ask for?”

  “Maybe for academy to be over,” Ariana chimed in.

  “Definitely that. I hate being so far away from everyone.”

  “How far is it, exactly?” Dad asked.

  Alex yawned again. “Over fifty miles. That’s how I qualified for the dorms. If it was much farther away, I wouldn’t even be able to think about coming home a couple times a week, like I’ve been managing so far.”

  Ari wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so glad you do.”

  Mom brought the pie over to the table. “Seconds, anyone?”

  “Me!” Ari scooped the last bite on her plate into her mouth.

  Alex chuckled and took another piece also, finding his exhaustion and annoyance melting away. He wasn’t sure if it was from being with his family or from the caffeine, but he was grateful for the reprieve.

  Once they were all too full for any more pie, his mom talked them into playing cards. They laughed and teased each other while playing several different games until it was dark outside.

  “Can I spend the night, too?” Ari begged.

  Alex’s mom kissed the top of her head. “I’d love that, but you’ll need to ask Mimi and Papi.”

  A half hour later, Alex kissed Ari goodnight in Macy’s old room. Then he lumbered into his childhood bedroom, the effects of the coffee now gone. Hopefully, Ariana and his parents would let him sleep in. He needed it after such a long and tiring week.

  The mattress welcomed him like an old friend. He pulled up the familiar covers and breathed in their fresh scent.

  Just as he was drifting off, his phone beeped with another text.

  He checked it in case it was Zoey, but it wasn’t.

  It was from the same number as earlier. And the message was exactly the same as the other one.

  Unknown: Flynn wants to see you.

  Anger churned in his gut.

  Alex: Who is this?

  Unknown: Flynn wants to see you.

  Alex: Who. Is. This!!!

  Unknown: Flynn wants to see you.

  Alex: I’m about 2 block u.

  Unknown: U don’t want 2 do that.

  At least it was a different text. Alex waited, wanting to make the person at the other end sweat, thinking he had blocked him.

  Unknown: Flynn wants to see you.

  Alex: Where?

  Unknown: The prison of course.

  Alex was pretty sure victims couldn’t visit criminals in prison, but his mind was also swimming in criminal law. Also, technically he wasn’t the victim. His daughter had been.

  Unknown: Hello?

  Alex: Leave me alone.

  Unknown: You gonna visit Flynn?

  Alex: I’ll think about it.

  Unknown: Flynn wants to see you.

  Alex resisted the urge to throw his phone against the wall.

  Alex: I’m busy these days.

  Unknown: Is the academy fun?

  Alex: Who is this??

  Acid churned in his gut. It infuriated him that the person knew he was in the academy. Were they watching him? Did they have access to those records?

  Alex waited a full five minutes for another text, which didn’t come. He silenced his phone and settled back down under the blankets, making a mental note to find out if he could actually visit Flynn in the prison.

  Maybe he’d be able to find out what was going on once and for all. There were people who thought he was nuts for his claims of seeing Flynn out free. But he knew what he’d seen. He could never forget the face of the man who had abducted his daughter.

  And the man he’d seen last night and on a few other occasions was Flynn Myer—no matter what anyone else said.

  Worry

  Genevieve tucked in Tinsley’s blankets then left the room, closing the door behind her. In the living room, she exchanged a concerned glance with her mom.

  Dad still wasn’t home, and it was dark now. He’d been gone all day.

  Nick had let her know he’d found him fishing but didn’t go into any detail other than saying he was safe and still not a suspect as there was no evidence linking him to anything.

  That should’ve helped her to feel better, but it didn’t. If enough coincidences pointed to her dad, he could become a suspect. And he sure wasn’t helping matters by disappearing all day and not answering anyone’s calls.
>
  “Tinsley asleep?” Mom asked.

  Genevieve nodded. “She seems to be in better spirits since all of this happened. She’s actually been talking, and she even gave Nick—I mean the captain—a hug.”

  “Is something going on between you and the captain?”

  Genevieve’s face flamed. Luckily, the room was dim and her mom couldn’t see her blush. “What makes you ask that?”

  “You just called him by his first name, for one thing. Then there’s the fact that you were in his arms earlier.”

  “He was offering me comfort. We’re friends. His kids are friends with Tinsley. Is there something wrong with that?”

  “Isn’t he your boss?”

  “Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

  Mom gave her a knowing look.

  “Have you heard from dad yet?”

  “He’ll be back. And don’t change the subject. Is the captain the reason you’re taking a break from work?”

  “I’m going to get some air.” She marched toward the door.

  “Genevieve, I’m not judging you. I just don’t want to see you putting your career on the line. You’ve wanted to be a police officer since you were a girl. Everything you’ve done has been for this.”

  “You think I don’t know that? I’m not going to do anything stupid.” Not again, anyway. “If Tinsley wakes, tell her I’ll be back soon, would you?”

  Mom frowned, but then nodded. “Are you just going to be outside, or are you going somewhere?”

  “I’m not sure yet.” She stepped outside and took a deep breath. As if it weren’t bad enough that she was falling more in love with her boss every day, now her mom knew. Or at the very least, suspected.

  She couldn’t return to work and have a relationship with her captain, nor could she go back and see him every day at work and not have a relationship with him. It was hard to think around him. Her mind turned to mush and she went weak in the knees.

  Genevieve hadn’t been able to stop thinking about being in his arms earlier. His strong, muscular arms. Pressed against his firm chest. His dusting of a beard scratching against her cheek.