Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Hana gasps. “Did you see that? Someone’s wearing a Team Sidney t-shirt in the crowd!”
“Ha. They are so on my Christmas card list.” My smile isn’t big, but it’s there. And its presence makes me feel like I am betraying Grace. I kind of want to throw something at the screen. But the only person that might hurt is me. And the TV of course. The way my emotions are all over the fucking place. I feel guilty and angry and a hundred other things. None of which are doing anyone any good. What we need to do is find out who killed my cousin. “They went to the trouble of either taking her to the same park or luring her out there where Briana Petersen was found. Why use a different method to murder her?”
“Strangling someone with your bare hands takes strength,” answers Muriel. “The ability to subdue them and keep up the pressure. Brain death takes five or so minutes.”
“A bullet to the back of the head is easier,” says Hana. “They didn’t ask you to identify the body?”
I shake my head. Not that they can see me. “No. I’m guessing my aunt had already arrived in town.”
“Do you think you’ll hear from her?” asks Muriel.
“I highly doubt it. She hated me before all of this. Her only child just got murdered, most likely because of a link to me. Those feelings will only be compounded now.”
“Wonder if they tried to bury her out there,” says Hana. “How closely did they follow what happened to Briana?”
“We need more information. The statement the cops made didn’t tell us a damn thing.”
There’s a noise from the lock on the back door and in walks Noah. My heart does its usual belly flop at the sight of him. A tension inside me unwinds. I don’t remember it being like this last time…so big and unwieldy and all consuming. It would make sense to slow down. Me and romantic relationships have an awful history, and he couldn’t have chosen a worse time to get involved with me. Though his alibi sure saved my ass and then some. My mobile phone data would place me at home. But someone having actual eyes on you is better.
“Noah’s back. Talk to you guys later.” I pick up my cell and disconnect the call. Then I turn off the TV.
And here we are. Just him and me.
The thing is, blurting out I like him or love him or I don’t know what is not a good idea. Not this soon. Not in the middle of all of this. However, there’s this tangle of words sitting on my tongue just waiting to be set free. I’m not even sure what it is I want to say. A safer option might be performing an interpretive dance or reciting some bad poetry. Anything that doesn’t involve throwing my panties and poor beat-up heart at the man.
His dark hair is damp and slicked back. And he’s wearing a fresh pair of jeans and a black tee. There are bruises beneath his eyes. A reminder of last night’s lack of sleep. He’s still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
“I tidied up the place and took a shower,” he says matter-of-factly. “Tried to think of shit to do to give you some time to yourself. But then I got worried about you being on your own, so here I am.”
“Hi.”
“Hey.” He tosses the key I’d given him yesterday in the air and catches it in his hand. “I think I’m going to hang on to this.”
“Oh.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No.”
I’ve never given a significant other a key. The timing never seemed right with Ryan. Something which just might have saved my life. But the thought of Noah being a part of my world, of him able to come and go as he likes, is strangely pleasing. None of the everyday normal anxiety rears its ugly head at the idea.
“You’d tell me if he called again, right?” he asks.
“Ryan? Yes. Though I doubt he will. I’m really not that important to him. He just likes to mess with me now and then. Being in prison must get boring.”
Noah makes a noncommittal sound. “What are you up to?”
“Guess I should try to get some work done.” I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t want to, but they sent over some files earlier for a rush job. The pressure is officially on.”
He nods. Then he yawns. “I’m going to crash. Come get me if you need me. If you hear a noise outside you want investigated or you want some company or anything, okay?”
I give him two thumbs up. Like an idiot. Check out my smooth moves.
The edge of his mouth kicks up in amusement and he heads for the stairs. Noah is staying the night and sleeping in my bed. Again. This has not been a good day, but life doesn’t entirely suck.