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“I can’t just sit here and wait,” I tell Vinny, sliding into my flats. I’m in shorts and a tank, my scars on full display, but right now I just don’t care. I almost wish I had a hat though, one of the decorative ones I left behind in Colorado that have become almost a trademark of mine. I could use that kind of confidence right now. “The report didn’t say anything about Alastair?”
He shakes his head once. “No. The only report is Porscha. Russell will call back if he hears anything else.”
My hands clench, thinking about what that could mean. They saw Porscha, but no Alastair, and he’s been missing for over two months.
I refuse to believe he’s dead. I can’t let fifteen years pass without touching him again, even if it’s just to slap some sense into that big, empty head of his.Whyis he still missing? My mother isn’t the person I wanted them to find.
“Do we call Sterling?” I ask, thinking out loud. If Porsha was spotted by a civilian, the police and FBI will go out immediately to try and catch her. She should be on the hook for at least one death, maybe more.
“I’m sure he knows about her already,” Vinny replies, and despite his protest he’s also grabbing his things, including his gun. “And I know he wouldn’t want us there.”
“We could be average civilians, just out for a drive,” I reason.
“Really, Jo? You don’t think anyone will be suspicious that we just happen to show up at the same time your mother is captured?”
“It’s not like we knew where she was,” I go on. “I was hoping the news would be about Alastair anyway.”
He sighs, reaching out to cup my cheek. “Me too.”
~~~
We follow the directions Russell gave us, but he doesn’t call back with anything else. He might have no idea who Alastair is, but he cares for us. If there was something to share he would.
When we see police lights up ahead, both sides of this small highway suddenly shut down, I exchange a look with Vinny. “Think they found her?”
He hesitates. “Do you want them to?”
What a loaded question. Of course I want them to find her! And it’s not just because she’s my mom, but because she has a lot to answer for.
Every time she crosses my mind, my chest tightens. When I thought Alastair was the one killing me, that really hurt. But my mother deciding to cut me to ribbons?
That’s so much worse and if I’m honest with myself, I’m afraid to know the truth.
We drive as far as we can until the barricade stops us. A police officer I don’t recognize comes over to Vinny’s window. I twist until I can see his badge, and it reads Walters County Police Department. We shouldn’t know anyone out here.
“Gonna have to reroute, folks,” the officer says, oblivious to who we are. “Police activity ahead. The road will be closed down for a while.”
Does that mean something else happened? Could be a standoff, could just be my mother making things difficult. Maybe the blood was hers and now it’s a medical emergency.
“Shame,” Vinny says, giving nothing away. If the officer doesn’t recognize us, all the better. “It’s not that escaped convict, is it? I heard you all have a problem with serial killers out here.”
I glare into the side of his head, hoping he can feel the heat of my hate.Unbelievable.There goes any shred of discretion.
The officer clears his throat. “That’s not something I can comment on, sir.”
“If the person up there is Porscha Surwright, she’s my mother,” I say, and the cop bends down to get a better look at me. “The FBI, are they up there? Agent Gideon might want to speak with me.”
Now Vinny shoots me a look. We’re kind of on the same page, but I’m sure he doesn’t want me anywhere near my mother.
The cop clears his throat, taking a step back from the car as he clicks his radio. “I have two individuals here claiming to know Ms. Surwright.”
“Have them park, I’ll be right there.” I recognize Sterling’s voice coming through the radio. He sounds pissed.
The officer directs us to where we can park, and I’m out of the vehicle before Vinny turns the engine off. “You’ll need to wait here,” the officer tells us in a no-nonsense tone.
Do I want to see my mother again? I’m not entirely sure if I want to or if Sterling will even let me. As Vinny joins me, we see Sterling jogging over. I was right – he is pissed.
“How the hell did you find us,” he yells. “You two cannot be here, this is an active scene!”