“So, Maya. We have a possible lead on the case. I’m sure you won’t remember, but you used to be dating someone called Jake Millington… does that ring any bells?” Bernie eyes me nervously. I think he doesn’t know how to handle me most of the time, questioning a woman who has no recollection of her past.
“I only know what my friends have told me. I was with him for a year, and he was a bit of a dick to me,” I roll my eyes. “I can’t tell you how true that is though, obviously.”
“We have reason to believe he was the onedriving the car. We’ve been looking into it for a few weeks now but didn’t want to come to you with this information until we were more confident that it is a genuine lead. The main reason we’re here now is that he’s missing. We’ve tried paying him a visit, his family, his work, he’s nowhere to be found.”
Shivers crawl up my back and down my arms, making me instinctively reach for my bad arm. It always aches after I’ve been working, and I stayed longer than usual yesterday.
“So he’s out there somewhere?” I worry my bottom lip as I ask. What could I have done to him to make him want to hurt me?
“At the minute, yes. All we want from you is to be more vigilant. If there is anything out of the ordinary, we need you to let us know as soon as you can,” Phil says with his kind tone.
“Okay, I will do. Do you think I’m safe?” Because I don’t bloody feel it.
“Honestly, we have no way to know. It might be a good idea to stay with friends for a while. Or go back to your parents?”
I bark out a laugh. Unable to control myself. Friends I barely know and a mum who should have been done for child abuse. My options are great, really.
“Leave it with me,” Is all I say in reply as they both eye me sceptically.
We chat for a bit longer before they are on their way. After they’re gone, I drop back downonto the couch, sink into it with my eyes closed and take three big deep breathes.
What the fuck am I going to do.
The universe really is out to get me at the minute. I debate texting the girls group chat for over ten minutes before finally giving in.
Maya– Hi girls, I know I don’t message much… is there any chance you could come round?
Fallon– Everything okay? I will leave now.
Gracie– Of course babes, me and Blair are on our way.
Wow, that was easier than I expected, I don’t know why I thought they’d react any differently, they’ve been amazing this whole time. They have been there for me in times I didn’t know I needed it.
I quickly shower and dress before they get here. The first person to walk straight in is of course, Fallon, carrying a tray of coffee cups. What an actual angel she is.
“Gimme gimme gimme!” I reach out like a toddler, clenching and unclenching my fists.
“How can you forget basically everything in life, except for your love of coffee?” She laughs. The laugh doesn’t fully reach her eyes though, the sadness still there in the background.
“It would be criminal to live without coffee,it’s what I depend on to make it through the day.”
“That’s what we call an addiction, Maymay.”
Hearing the nickname the girls call me always makes me happy. To know we must have been closer than we are now. We are definitely getting back to that point. Slowly but surely.
“Mmmmm, is that caffeine I can smell in here?” Blair shouts as she walks in, Gracie trailing along behind her. “How did you manage to go for coffee and still beat us here?”
“Because you two would be late to your own bloody funeral,” Fallon rolls her eyes, making me giggle.
We all get on the couch, Gracie walking round to the other side of the room pulling out four blankets, they all certainly know this house well enough. She hands us all one each before getting herself comfortable.
“Oh girls, I have missed this. Mornings at Maya’s with coffee is my all-time favourite past time,” Gracie says wistfully.
“Is this something we used to do often?” I ask, picking at the lid of my coffee. They’re used to me asking things like this, I just can’t stand to see the sympathy in their eyes when I do.
“Yep, all the time. Always here because you have a comfy as fuck couch,” Blair says straight to the point, making us all laugh.
“Thanks for coming round, I’ve had a visit off the police again today and its freaked me out abit,” I admit.
