Page 68 of Don’t Open Your Eyes

“How do you know my name?”

“I know you thought you were meeting Ben, but I can explain.”

She stood up. “Get away from me!” she whispered. She didn’t want to make a scene. Humiliation filled her when she thought about all the things she’d texted to this weirdo pretending to be Ben. What did he want? She ran toward the door and he got up, calling after her.

“Wait!”

The blood pounded in her ears as she flung the door open and looked around. She needed to hide. He was coming. She ducked around the corner and hid behind the dumpster in front of the alley, watching as he spun around looking for her. Finally, he walked over to a white BMW parked on the street and got in. Once he pulled away, she ran to her bike and jumped on it. She had to get home! As she cut down the alley she heard a car behind her. Glancing over her shoulder she screamed when she saw it was the white BMW. It was coming right at her. She pedaled faster and faster, her heart racing. She looked over her shoulder again. It was getting closer. Before she could figure out what to do, she felt a hard jolt and went flying over the handlebars. Then everything went black.

Annabelle

“Are you going to have any more pancakes, or are you ready to go?” James asked Olivia, whose eyes had been bigger than her stomach.

“I’m done,” she said.

“I’m finished,” he corrected her.

“Me too,” she said, giggling. Annabelle delighted in her younger daughter’s ability to let everything roll off her back.

They paid the bill and left the diner. Annabelle’s lack of sleep was beginning to get to her. It was not quite eleven o’clock. She didn’t know how she was going to stay awake until evening, but she knew better than to sleep now and throw her system off entirely. When they got home, she went upstairs and was about to unpack when she heard their doorbell ring. Must be Sophie, she thought as she looked out the bedroom window. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the police car. Dropping the skirt in her hands, she flew down the stairs. James was standing there with a police officer. The officer looked up as she approached. James turned around.

“I was about to call you,” James said.

“Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, can we take a seat for a minute?” the officer asked.

“What’s happened?” Annabelle said, panic making her feel faint.

“Is Scarlett Reynolds your daughter?”

“Yes,” Annabelle and James answered in union.

“I’m afraid there’s been an accident. Your daughter was on her bike downtown, and she was struck by a car. We found your address in her wallet. It was on her country club membership card. She’s on her way to Norwalk Hospital.”

“No! What are you talking about? She was at her friend’s house,” James said.

“How badly is she hurt?” Annabelle asked, grabbing James’s arm to steady herself.

“I’m not sure, ma’am. Would you like me to take you to the hospital?”

“Yes!” She ran past James and out the door. “Call your mother to come stay with Olivia. You can meet me there.”

She jumped in the passenger seat of the police car and struggled to get a breath. “Where was she? Who hit her? She wasn’t even supposed to be on her bike.”

“It was a hit-and-run. There were no witnesses. There’ll be an investigation, of course.”

It didn’t make any sense. Avery lived on the other side of town. Scarlett was in downtown Bayport. What was she doing there on her bike this early in the morning? “I don’t understand,” she said to herself as much as to the officer. Then she had an idea. She called James. “Text me the phone number to Avery’s house. I want to see if she knows anything.”

“Okay. My mother just got here so I’ll meet you at the hospital. I tried to call, but I couldn’t get any information.” He sounded as frantic as she felt.

She ended the call and waited for the text. As soon as the number came through, she hit call.

“Hello?”

“Is this Avery’s mother?”

“Yes, who’s this?” the woman asked.

“This is Annabelle Reynolds. I’m Scarlett’s mom. She told me she was going to your house today, but she was hit by a car downtown. Do you have any idea where she might have been going, or does your daughter know anything?” The words came out in a rush.