28
Hailey
“Miss Vaughn.” Melinda’s clipped voice calls out as soon as I enter the cafeteria, dressed in jeans and a long cardigan.
She sits by the professors’ usual table, her features pinched, her boring, brown dress suit impeccable.
“You have a visitor.” She motions to the man beside her.
Relief and disappointment churns in my stomach, one contradicting the other.
It’s not my father. I dreaded getting into an argument over why I wasn’t in my room this early in the morning, but at the same time I miss him. Maybe we could talk more freely face to face.
I narrow my eyes at the man beside Melinda, his posture rigid, black suit hanging loose over his shoulders like he recently lost thirty pounds and hasn’t had time to buy new clothes.
Why is hehere? It doesn’t make sense. I only met him once and Dad said no one save for him and Dr. Phillips know where I’mrecovering.
“Good morning, Hailey,” Officer Matthews denotes with a kind smile. “Your father sends his regards.”
Coming closer, I take his outstretched hand. “He didn’t mention you’d be visiting. Is everything okay?”
“It is, I’ll explain in a minute.” He glances out the window before zeroing in on Melinda. “Do you mind if I take Hailey for a walk?”
“Of course not,” she clips, rising from her seat. She couldn’t look more disinterested if she tried. “Please don’t wander far. It’s easy to get lost in the woods.” She looks at me over her glasses. “I trust you’ll be okay?”
I don’t know.
I nod, remembering what Dad told me about Matthews. Without another word, Melinda turns on her heel, briskly sauntering out of the nearly empty cafeteria.
“Shall we?” Matthews gestures toward the double doors, letting me lead. “I’m afraid I don’t have much time.”
As soon as we’re outside, I regret choosing a cardigan. Had I known it wasn’t Dad, I would’ve proudly pulled Nash’s hoodie over my head, but I didn’t want to face an inquisition.
Now the chilly morning air seeps through, making me shiver. Matthews takes charge of our destination, leading me down a cobblestone pathway toward the forest. Before we get there he stops, and pulls out a folded note from his inside pocket.
He hands it over, urging me to read and I immediately recognize my father’s neat writing.
Sunshine,
I’m sorry I can’t make it out there myself. There are many things I can’t yet tell you about but know that all precautions I’m taking have your best interest at heart.
I need to know what you’ve remembered so far, but I can’t risk a phone conversation, or driving all the way down there in case someone follows me. It’s not safe for anyone to know you’re healing at Lakeside.
Again, I’m sorry I can’t explain things further, but I promise it’s for your own good.
Please answer all of Jonathan’s questions as best as you can. He will relay everything back to me.
I love you and I hope to have you back home safe soon.
Dad
Questions swirl inside my head, begging for answers. My lips part, but the words dissolve on the tip of my tongue. Jonathan’s expression tells me that, like my father, he won’t explain shit.
He’s here to get information, not give anything away.
I swallow hard, wondering why I’m not safe and why no one can know where I am. What the hell happened the night of the accident? What don’t I remember?
How does Alex play into this?
