Annie's throat tightened.She didn't want to go back to Seattle.There was nothing there for her.She'd lost her mom, and her life there felt distant and hollow compared to what she'd found here.
She wanted Hunter.
But she hadn't seen him in over a week.Not since the fire, not since the police had taken her and Leigh away.The distance between them gnawed at her, leaving her restless and aching.
She walked beside her sister, nodding at her plans, but inside her heart whispered a different truth.
She didn't want to start over in Seattle.She wanted to stay here.She wanted to fight for Hunter, for the man who had risked everything to protect her.
But for now, she kept her silence.
Because some truths were too heavy to speak aloud.
Upon arrival at the hotel, she inhaled deeply.The lobby smelled faintly of stale coffee and lemons, much better than the funeral home.Annie stood outside the elevator, Leigh at her side, when Officer Phillip appeared near the front desk.
Annie gasped, reaching for her sister.Her heart raced.It was supposed to be over.
He held out a set of keys."Your car."
Annie blinked, her stomach tightening.She hadn't thought about the car in days.In all the chaos with the fire, the police, the hotel, the lies, she'd assumed it was gone, lost to Jason's narcissistic control.She looked to Leigh, searching for guidance, but her sister's face was unreadable.They hadn't planned any story to cover up the missing vehicle.They had no idea what Jason had done with it or what he'd told his coworkers on the force.
Phillip offered a small smile."Jason had it parked in the city-owned lot where they tow vehicles because he didn't have enough room in the driveway for his patrol cruiser and his personal car.I went ahead and drove it over.It's in the parking garage behind the hotel."He paused, his tone casual.
Annie's throat tightened.She forced a nod."Th-Thanks."
The lies and crimes kept piling up.Would she ever be free?
Leigh exchanged a few words of polite talk, and then Officer Phillip took his leave.Skipping the elevator that had come and gone, Annie and Leigh climbed the stairs in their escape, the weight of the keys almost burning her hand.
She had her vehicle again.Her apartment was still under lease in Seattle.All her belongings and her mom's belongings were there.Leigh would do better with a change of scenery.She could put the past truly behind her.
Inside the hotel room, Annie stared at the keys, her mind racing.Since the car was back, there was no reason not to leave once they picked up Jason's ashes in three days.They couldn't stay here forever.The police department had only paid for the hotel room until Sunday.
It was all happening too fast.Too final.
And her heart ached with the thought of leaving without seeing Hunter again.
She sat on the edge of the bed, pulling out the phone Hunter had given her.Her fingers hovered over the screen.She wanted to tell him it was all over.Any worry over Jason and the crimes that could follow them was gone.
Jason's death had been declared a suicide.The homeowner started the house fire, so the only thing Leigh now owned was the plot of land.They didn't need to be here while the property was cleaned up.Her sister could resell it later and let someone else build a home there.
Finally, she typed a message.
I need to see you.
She hit send.
Then she waited.
And waited.
The minutes stretched long.The quiet in the room was only broken by Leigh's quiet movements.Annie stared at the phone, her heart pounding, desperate for a reply that never came.
