Page 57 of Diluted Truths

“I’m offended you don’t know it’s me. It’s Griffin.”

What the hell?

I was immediately wary and nervous.

“How did you get my number?”

He laughed. “That’s inconsequential, Jackie. I needed to talk with you and I needed to make surehewasn’t around when I did.”

“He?”

“William Bly.”

I knew I should hang up and call the police, or Will, at least someone. But this was my chance to get more information about what was happening, and just a phone call couldn’t hurt me. In fact, it provided protection and a veil to how I truly felt. I could use that to make Griffin believe I felt as he did.

I grabbed a pen and began to take notes, not wanting to miss a single detail if it could be helpful.

“Well, just your luck, I haven’t seen him since last Tuesday.”

“Good. He’s no good for you, Jackie. He’ll only hurt you. You saw how he acted when I was simply taking what’s mine. He hurt me, Jackie. How could you just stand by and watch that?” Griffin asked, growing more agitated.

I needed to deescalate the situation, and get him to answer some questions. I needed to appeal to him, make him think I care for him.

“I’m so sorry. I was scared to come when Will was there.”

It feltdisgusting to lie about Will and use him to get to Griffin but it was my only choice. But, it seemed to be working.

“Yes, yes. Of course you’re right. Will is dangerous, it was smart to do that. We can’t have him knowing about us.”

I sighed and sat down at my kitchen table. “Exactly. Thank you for understanding. May I ask you something, Griffin?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“How did you draw those pictures of me?”

“Did you like them? I worked so hard on them for so long for you.”

“I did, I loved them, Griffin. But I don’t understand how you drew them?” I asked again.

I needed to know how he did it. It was terrifying and impossible that he was able to do that. Some of the items in his drawings, such as wall art in my apartment, had been added since he was imprisoned. Therefore, it was impossible that they all came from before then. I had thought about theories of how he pulled it off. Maybe he hired someone to follow me, maybe he had friends nearby or we had mutual friends. When I told Theo she decided he was a psychic. So we obviously had no viable answers.

“Oh, Jackie. You wouldn’t believe me yet. Soon you’ll understand.”

Why couldn’t he give me a straight answer? That’s what I wanted to ask him, but knew that would most likely upset him. Just as I was about to respond, he cut me off.

“I have to go, Jackie. I will call again soon. Good luck.”

And with that, one of the shortest and strangest phone calls I had ever been a part of ended.

I sat for a moment and just thought.

I was so exhausted and I was so confused. I couldn’t make sense of any of it. Griffin and Joey stating I was going to go missing. The stalkerish behavior from Griffin, a person I had never met before. The dreams thatwere non stop yet I could remember nothing from. The case that was just supposed to be about a young boy's disappearance had evolved into my own nightmarish reality. I could barely follow how things had escalated.

I didn’t know who to talk to about it all. I had been lying to Fai about it for so long it was too late to come clean now. Sarah would just want me to talk to Fai. I couldn't burden Oliver with anything more to keep from Fai. I did tell Theo, but she was a state away and couldn’t exactly help. That left Will, who I had been avoiding since we had gotten home. My feelings for him were growing and expanding in ways that I didn’t understand.

It was all just too much. A few months ago my life was ordered and understandable. Now, I had no idea what was happening and just wanted a drink. One drink to help make it go away. I couldn’t do that, and I wouldn’t, but it was all I wanted.

Slowly I sank down into the kitchen floor and let it all out. I laid there and cried. The exhaustion only heightening my confusion and fear surrounding the case, surrounding lying to Fai, and surrounding Will.