Page 33 of On Edge

I don’t say anything. I might cry if I do.

“Sage, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I lie again, squeezing my eyes shut. I want to tell her that I’m scared. That I have no clue what I’m doing. But I’ve never been good at opening up and letting others in. And I hate myself for not being able to.

“Okay.” She doesn’t sound sure. That makes two of us. “If you’re sure.”

“Really, I’m fine,” I repeat, more to myself than her.

“You’ve saidfinethree times.”

I hesitate. We agreed not to involve ourselves in each other’s murders; that way, we were not complicit, just silent cheerleaders waiting with a cup of tea and a hug after it’s over.

But I’ve helped Laine move bodies.

And Nola gave Laine a gun.

Maybe we’re getting involved with each other way more than we should. I really shouldn’t involve them any more than I already have. But when she sounds even less convinced, I end up explaining about the old newspaper clipping and the morality clause.

“You know your father can be…”

“A criminal? Yes, I know.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I have to stay. It’s the only way I can find out what happened to Nell.”

“And kill the bastard.”

“That too. I just need more time.”

“Look. I’ve got to get back to work. Why don’t…meet me…tomorrow…?” Her voice cuts off again, but I think she’s asking to meet up since I skipped the last few group therapy sessions.

“I can try.” I drag in a breath.

“Hold on, Sage? This line is so bad.” There’s crackling and then nothing.

“Laine?” I spin around, trying to restore the signal.

“I’m here. That’s better. I can hear you now.”

“I said, I can try, but listen, I can’t be sure I’ll find a way to get off this island without an escort.”

“Okay,wherecan you get to if you could?”

I think of one place. “Fleet shopping center?”

“I know it.” There’s muffling while Lane talks to someone with her, and then she comes back on the line. “So let’s do this. Nola and I will have our lunch at Betsy’s veggie burger place every day this week. If you can make it, great; if you can’t, no big deal.”

“Okay. What time?”

“Around noon. Also, Jaxon says he’ll skin that son of a bitch alive for you if you want. Just say the word.”

Her words make me want to kiss Jaxon, and I don’t do men with eyelashes longer than I do.

“Tell him thanks…But no, she was my sister.I want to gut him myself.” As soon as I say it, I know it’s true.

“I have no doubt that you do. And will,” Laine says after a pause.