“Trinity drugged their drinks,” Arlow says, speaking fast. “We found Lacey passed out when we got here. She remembers Trinity telling her not to be scared. She's fine, just upset, but Silver’s gone. They left a note.” He pauses and I want to reach through the phone and pull the words from him. “If Joshua isn’t dead by morning, then Silver will be.”
I stomp the gas pedal down, throwing gravel behind me. “Do you have your gun?”
“Yes.”
“Stay there. I’m on my way.”
The drive to Lacey’s apartment is a blur of lights and streets. Fireworks crack somewhere in the distance. Between the fireworks and the gunshots, it’ll sound like a war zone in town once midnight hits. I blow through a stop sign, gripping the wheel so tight my knuckles are white.
Silver will be dead by morning.
The words loop, heavy and relentless. That can’t happen. I’ll kill whoever stands in my path and turn my woods into a graveyard if that’s what it takes to save her. I pull into the lot near Arlow’s truck. Lacey’s car is there but Silver’s truck isn’t.
Lacey throws her apartment door open as I approach. Her face is red, streaked with tears, makeup, and glitter. She starts to sob when she sees me and collapses into my chest. I wrap my arms around her automatically, holding her tight even as my insides tear loose. Arlow steps over to shut the door so no one overhears us and involves the cops.
“I don’t understand,” she cries, her fists twisting in my shirt. “I don’t understand. Why would she do this?”
“It’s going to be okay. You aren’t hurt?”
“No, but S-Silver…”
“I know.” I lead her over to the couch and guide her to sit. “Listen to me, Lacey. I’m going to get her back, okay? It’s going to be alright, but I need you to tell me what happened and what you saw.”
“I didn’t see anything. We were having fun, drinking and talking. Silver went to the bathroom and I started feeling woozy. Trinity took my drink out of my hand so I wouldn’t spill it, and she said, ‘You don’t have to be afraid. You’ll be fine. This isn’t about you.’ I couldn’t move or keep my eyes open. The next thing I remember is Calli waking me up. This note was taped to the TV screen.”
She nods to the piece of paper that’s tucked between two empty glasses on the coffee table. Calli stands nearby, pale, with her arms wrapped around herself. Arlow paces, his phone in his hand and his jaw clenched.
The note holds one simple sentence handwritten in black ink.If Joshua isn’t dead by morning, then Silver will be.
“This is my fault,” Lacey cries. “She was my roommate. But I thought she liked Silver. She asked me about her a lot. I thought she might even have a crush or something. Do you think that’s why she took her? Is she some psycho stalker? And who the hell is Joshua?”
“No, this isn’t your fault. It’s mine.” I head down the hallway as I ask, “The last bedroom is Trinity’s?”
“Yes.” Arlow is right behind me. Lacey and Callihover at the door as we start tearing the room apart looking for anything that might be a clue to where she took her.
The closet door is slightly ajar, and I yank it open, pulling things out. Clothes, shoes, an extra pillow and blanket. A plain cardboard box is shoved in the back corner, labeled summer clothesin black marker.
I yank it open to find a manilla envelope full of cash hidden in a bunch of skimpy clothes and underwear. I freeze when I look at the back of the top shelf. A foam head stares back at me wearing a bright red wig.
My stomach drops into my feet. It was her all along. She was the prostitute who paid her client to deliver the dress to Silver. All this time she’s been fucking with me and living with my little sister.
I step out of the closet, holding up the wig, and Arlow’s eyes widen as he curses. Pure confusion lives on Lacey’s face when I look at her. “I need to know everything you know about Trinity. Where she works, who she hangs out with, what kind of car she drives, everything you can think of. Now.”
She shakes her head. “I met her when I was getting my nails done. We got to talking, and she was looking to rent a room. She works the overnight shift at one of the warehouses in Cadiz. She doesn’t have a car anymore, the engine blew and she junked it. She uses a rideshare app. I’ve heard her mention a work friend named Lisa, but I’ve never met her. Lee, what’s going on?” she cries.
Arlow holds up a phone in a purple case that he’s fishedout of her top drawer. “Is this the phone she uses?” he asks Lacey.
Lacey looks at it and nods, then turns her gaze back to me waiting for an answer.
Arlow turns the phone case around to show that she’s smashed it. He digs around in it and announces, “No sim card or battery. She knew we’d track her phone.” Arlow shakes his head. “Was she working for Matthew Wynne?”
“Or with him, maybe, I don’t fucking know.” It doesn’t make sense. I turn to Lacey. “Has she ever mentioned the name Matthew? Or Joshua Haney?”
“No, she never talks about any guys really. Lee, tell me what’s happening!” Her voice rises, carrying a note of hysteria, and I grab her arms, looking her in the eye.
“It’s a long story. Right now, I need to go find Silver and I need you to listen to me. Go with Calli back to their place.” I look over to speak to Calli. “Tell her everything. All of it.” Calli nods, and I finish talking to Lacey. “Stay there until I come after you, do you hear? I don’t care if it’s days from now. Stay with Calli.”
The fear on Lacey’s face is hard to witness, and I hate that she’s about to learn exactly what I’m capable of, but she needs to know. “Do you have a gun at home?” I ask Calli.
