Page 88 of Deliverance

"No, I was worried about you," I admitted.

"I'm okay."

"Good. How did yesterday go?"

She sighed. "The best it could have. I'm in Albany at my parents’."

"When can I see you?"

"I wish today."

"I'll come up there," I offered.

"Do you think it's okay?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"How would I say we met?"

"The internet," I deadpanned.

Erin laughed. "The internet?"

"You did message me thinking you knew me." I grinned, referring to her message.

"True, but it's been less than a day."

"I know, but I miss you already."

"You miss me?" I could hear the smile in her voice.

"Of course, I do. I saw you almost every single day for ten years."

She was silent for a few moments. "I did meet you before I was kidnapped. We can pretend I sent you a message to tell you that I was okay, and you wanted to see me."

"Perfect. Text me the address."

We hung up, and I jumped in the shower. I wanted more details about what the cops knew. Were they searching for Frank and Saffron? They had to be unless it was one of the police on Frank's payroll. If the women and Martin had gone to the station to give a statement, it probably wasn't cops being paid by Frank. If they didn't and conducted everything at the mansion, then it had to be someone Frank was paying. I couldn't wait for everything to be over, to forget we had ever known Frank and Saffron—if that was possible.

After I got dressed, I went into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee to go. "Where are you off to?" Momma asked, eating half a grapefruit at the kitchen table.

"Erin's in Albany. I'm going to go see her and figure out what the next step is." The night before, I’d told Momma about what had happened the day Frank and Saffron died. I told her about the cover-up house and how I wanted to start fresh in California. She wanted that too.

"What if Marco comes back?"

I stopped pouring coffee into a travel mug. "Lock the door and don't let him in."

"Do you think that will stop him?"

I didn't. "No."

"Then—"

"Do you know how to use a gun?"

Momma blinked. "No."

"Well, hopefully, you won't need to use it." I started to leave the kitchen.