I don’t know why. But it feels like this was something reserved for me.
“I’ll be down in five for strategy,” I tell Rachel. I need a moment to fight the surfacing headache.
“Do you want me to send out a BOLO?” she asks.
It is the one question I have been trying to delay. My brain feels like it, and I rub my eyes with my arms supported on my desk.
The moment I send out a BOLO, everything will go to crap. The deal will officially be revoked. And we’re back to square one. Or do I give her the benefit of the doubt that she is just scared of her own feelings and will find her way back?
“No,” I say. “If we don’t have anything new in 48 hours, we will.”
“Do you think she’s coming back?” Rachel asks, naturally.
“I want to leave the door open, because things have been quite confrontative, and I am partially guilty of her reaction. I rub my eyes more and squint them to focus.
“Okay,” says Rachel and leaves.
My phone pings, announcing an incoming message.
I squint at the display and see a message from an unknown number. The moment I read it, I am wide awake.
Don’t forget to eat.
17
AVERY
PLAYLIST: PAPAOUTAI – STROMAE
The burner rings as I walk down the path leading to the fountain. Gravel crushes softly underneath my feet.
Of course, she is calling me back.
I don’t even know why I did it, but I just couldn’t stop myself. Now that I am breathing the air of freedom, feeling like myself again, having some distance between her and me, things appear different.
“Did you eat?” I ask her when I answer.
“No,” she says. “Where are you?”
“Not telling you,” I say.
“You know I can track this phone?”
“Then why don’t you?” I ask her to challenge her.
“Come back, and we'll sort everything out.”
Her voice is almost pleading.
“I can’t,” I say. “There is something I have to do.”
“You know where Hedda is, don’t you?”
I could lie. But then, what’s the point?
“Yes,” I say silently.
“Don’t do it,” she almost pleads with me.
