Page 70
Story: Code Name: Michelangelo
I rolled my eyes. “My ability to read is not fascinating. What made you bring this up now? Are you supposed to be getting back to her?”
“When the meeting ended, she said she wasn’t ready to move forward yet, and I haven’t heard anything since.”
“Again, why today?”
“I feel as though I’ve been keeping it from you and?—”
“Brand, it wasn’t a feeling; you were keeping it from me.”
“I will never get away with a single thing in our lives, will I? Not even the good surprises.”
“You did pretty well in California,” I said before sighing. “To be honest, I knew something was up.”
“You did?”
I reached up and touched his left eyebrow. “It’s your tell, remember?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I figured when you were ready to talk about whatever it was, you would.”
“Wow. You are amazingly understanding.”
“Not always,” I warned.
“Noted. So, when can we return to the island?”
“Today, if you’d like. Ava and Aine are working this weekend, so I’m not needed. Are you sure that’s where you want to go? Not, say, Florida, where it’s warmer?”
He shuddered. “There isn’t anywhere I’d rather go than Butterfly Cottage.”
“You’re weird, but okay.”
We took the car I rarely drove since it was harder to find a ride service to Patchogue in the offseason. We were forty-five minutes from the ferry landing when my cell vibrated with a message from Julie. “How odd. I was just thinking about her.” I said to Brand, who was behind the wheel.
“Who?”
“Julie, the woman I met in the park. Oh my God. Her message says she can’t talk, but she needs help.”
Brand’s eyes opened wide.
What’s wrong? I messaged back. A few minutes later, she called.
“Hi,” I said, holding the phone so Brand could hear the conversation too.
“I’m so sorry to do this, but I need help.”
“What can I do?” I asked.
“My mum and my baby are sick. We’re being watched. A car keeps going by the house.” Her voice cracked like she was crying.
“Where are you, Julie?”
“On Long Island, in Patchogue.”
Where we were headed. “Have you called the police?” I asked.
“No police.”
“When the meeting ended, she said she wasn’t ready to move forward yet, and I haven’t heard anything since.”
“Again, why today?”
“I feel as though I’ve been keeping it from you and?—”
“Brand, it wasn’t a feeling; you were keeping it from me.”
“I will never get away with a single thing in our lives, will I? Not even the good surprises.”
“You did pretty well in California,” I said before sighing. “To be honest, I knew something was up.”
“You did?”
I reached up and touched his left eyebrow. “It’s your tell, remember?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I figured when you were ready to talk about whatever it was, you would.”
“Wow. You are amazingly understanding.”
“Not always,” I warned.
“Noted. So, when can we return to the island?”
“Today, if you’d like. Ava and Aine are working this weekend, so I’m not needed. Are you sure that’s where you want to go? Not, say, Florida, where it’s warmer?”
He shuddered. “There isn’t anywhere I’d rather go than Butterfly Cottage.”
“You’re weird, but okay.”
We took the car I rarely drove since it was harder to find a ride service to Patchogue in the offseason. We were forty-five minutes from the ferry landing when my cell vibrated with a message from Julie. “How odd. I was just thinking about her.” I said to Brand, who was behind the wheel.
“Who?”
“Julie, the woman I met in the park. Oh my God. Her message says she can’t talk, but she needs help.”
Brand’s eyes opened wide.
What’s wrong? I messaged back. A few minutes later, she called.
“Hi,” I said, holding the phone so Brand could hear the conversation too.
“I’m so sorry to do this, but I need help.”
“What can I do?” I asked.
“My mum and my baby are sick. We’re being watched. A car keeps going by the house.” Her voice cracked like she was crying.
“Where are you, Julie?”
“On Long Island, in Patchogue.”
Where we were headed. “Have you called the police?” I asked.
“No police.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108