Elijah
“It’s so good to see you.” Gwen’s arms hug me tightly, and I melt instantly. I forgot how much I missed seeing her.
Having been in a relationship with my dad, it always feels like I’m closer to him when I’m around her.
“I’ve missed you too.” I mutter, taking in a big breath.
“Come on in.” She offers me a soft, shy smile before waving me into her bungalow. “I know you said you couldn’t stay for long, but can I make you a coffee? Tea?” She asks, walking into her living room.
After my dad passed, we told Gwen she should stay and live with us. Wanting to give us some space, she declined. But thankfully, her bungalow is just a short distance from our place.
“No, it’s okay.” I smile, kicking off my boots. I walk into her living room, admiring how cozy it is in here. She’s always been a fan of bright oranges and yellows, and her house gives off that vibe. I flop on her brown leather couch and grab one of her yellow throw pillows to hold. This won’t be an easy conversation and I need all the comfort I can get.
“Okay.” She smiles, walking over to me and sitting down beside me. “What’s up?”
I stare down at my hands in my lap as I conjure up all the details in my mind. “I’ve come to talk…about Tobias.”
Right away, I see her smile fade, as her eyebrow creases. It’s as if she knows what I’m about to say.
“You told me you were worried…and I didn’t believe you at the time.” I look down. “I believe you now. I’m sorry that I didn’t before. I think…” I swallow thickly, the words feeling like razor blades in my throat. “I think I was in denial about him struggling. I think something’s really wrong.”
She nods slowly. “I think Tobias struggles a lot with the thoughts in his head. And with everything that’s going on right now…it puts him in a dangerous place.”
I cringe, thinking about how selfish I’ve been. I bury my head in my hands, stomach twisting at all the facts coming together. “He hasn’t been sleeping. Eating. He’s even been drinking more which is so unlike him. One or two, maybe. But…nothinglike he’s been doing.” I pull at my hair. “He’s okay when I’m around but…I can’t be around twenty-four seven.”
She inches closer, her palm moving in slow, steady circles over my back. “He’s not alone. Neither are you. You boys forget you have a strong support system. For instance, I can pop in more often.”
I shake my head. “It’s more than that. I think…things won’t get better until Derrick is behind bars.” My eyes sting as I sit up to look at her straight on. “Which is what I wanted to talk to you about.” I take a deep breath in, readying myself for whatever Gwen has to tell me. I know, whatever the case may be, I have to believe everything will work itself out.
“Derrick has been back in contact with Tobias…and I think he’s in real trouble. Until he’s put away, Tobias is fighting against a ghost.”
Gwen stills, her hands shaking in her lap. “He’s…beenin contact with him?Do the cops know that?”
I shift in my seat. “That’s why I’m here. I need your help. Well, Tobias and I both do. You’re a paralegal so you can help give me advice, right?”
Gwen nods her head. “I can’t represent anyone, but yes, you can talk to me and I can help however I can.”
My shoulders drop. “Okay, that’s fine.”
I take some time slowly explaining everything Tobias told me about his involvement with Derrick, repeating everything he told me. Thankfully, I had his permission to do so, or else I’d feel horrible spilling his secrets.
“Oh my God.” She gasps, throwing her hand over her heart. “Poor Tobias. This is so horrible. We need to be with him.” She goes to jump up.
I grab her hand, pulling her back down. “Wait. This makes him an accomplice or something, right? Can’t he get in trouble for this?” Panic coursing through me as images of Tobias behind bars flash through my mind. I’ll do whatever I can to keep him safe, even if that means keeping this a secret forever.
Gwen nods her head and I can see her bouncing through thoughts in her head. “Technically, he did aid a fugitive evade capture which is pretty serious.”
I gasp, pushing my fingers through my hair. “Fuck, fuck,fuck.”
“But,” she grabs my hands, pulling them out and giving them a big squeeze. “Derrick is violent and if he’s threatening Tobias with a gun, he’s a victim of coercion.” She shakes her head. “Of course, it’s different in some areas, but there’s a good chance that the cops will be more concerned about catching Derrick than Tobias’s involvement.”
I suck in a shaky breath. I’m not sure if I feel any better.
“Elijah…all that information you told me about the motel? The car he’s driving? All of it could help the cops find out where he is. It could really help.”
I look at her, feeling the weight of tears brimming my eyes. “You think I should get him to talk.”
She nods slowly, giving my hand a tight squeeze. “Yeah…yeah, I do.”
