Page 25

Lucy

I can feel Billy’s arms wrapped around me, creating a sense of security. I came home and passed out for six hours.

Since waking up, I’ve found solace in his comforting embrace. The lines on his forehead aren’t as relaxed as normal, and I wonder what happened last night.

His magenta hair is a mess, and as I continue to stare at him, I take in all his details—tobacco scent mixed with his favourite bar of soap, tattoos that line every inch of him, the way he curls around me like I might fade away.

When my phone vibrates on the nightstand, I groan. The last fucking thing I want to do is head into the office and regret agreeing to be on call since Leah fucked off, but it made Artie happy.

That’s all I want in my professional life, for my friends and Billy to be cheerful.

“Hello,” I whisper into the phone .

“Lucy, we need you down here. Leah has been found, and she’s in rough shape,” Artie replies.

“If you got her, doesn’t that mean you don’t need me?”

“I need you to come to the hospital right away.”

Billy’s arms circle me tighter and I struggle to not throw the cell across the room.

“I’ll be there soon,” I say.

Squirming around, I look back at Billy’s face. “Was this you?”

“Was what me?” He stretches his arms and props his head up on his hand.

“They found Leah, or parts of her. I don’t know. They called me into work.”

His brows lower, and his eyes darken. He scrambles out of bed and trips over the sheet.

“What is it?”

“It was me, but she’s supposed to be fucking dead. I checked this morning. Fuck.”

He paces the room and I stare at him as he grips his hair.

“Billy, listen. You go clean up whatever you have in that barn. I’ll head to work and come back, okay?”

Dread grows in my stomach like a pit, and I think I’m going to be sick. “Breathe, I’ll protect you.”

He stares at me as I stand up and get dressed. “I’m supposed to defend you. Touch her and die, that kinda thing,” he whispers .

I glance over my shoulder, watching him sit on the edge of the bed in his boxers. His body is slouched and his face is buried in his hands.

“Doesn’t mean it can’t work both ways. I’ll call JoJo and see if she can explain where you were when I was at work,” I tell him.

I look into the mirror, twisting my hair into a messy bun and smoothing out my shirt.

“Lou, I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose you,” he breathes from behind me. His eyes are wild through the reflection in the glass and I swallow my despair.

“Well, we’ll never have to find out, eh?” I spin and wrap my arms around his neck, his warm body pressing against mine.

“Clean up whatever you have out there. Burn the fucking thing down, for all I care.”

“Won’t it look suspicious if your barn suddenly burns down?”

I bite my lip and stare into his brown eyes. “Maybe. Can’t you contain a fire to the rooms needed? This isn’t my area of expertise. This is all you. I got damage control.”

Billy wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer, as if we can become one person.

“Darlin’, I love you. I swear to god I thought she was dead. I wanted to remove everything fucking toxic from your life,” he whispers .

I kiss his lips and he withdraws to get dressed. I grab my purse and keys, the jingle of the keychain echoing through the empty hallway.

Once I’m in the car, I drive to the hospital. Music blares as my mind races until I get there.

Sitting in the parking lot, I try to figure out how to deal with all of this. Hopefully Leah is on her last leg and can’t tell the truth.

Walking up the pathway, I talk to the admin to get to the right floor and find Artie pacing the small white waiting room. The constant buzzing of machines fills the air as nurses hurriedly attend to patients.

“Artie, what’s going on?” I ask.

The air is heavy with the sickening scent of disinfectant, and the sight of the half-empty snack dispensers and the orange hard-plastic chairs make me opt to stand.

“Call this morning from a man driving down the street. I wasn’t the one to bring her in. It’s out of our jurisdiction. She’s in rough shape, Lucy. I’m not sure if she’ll make it, and if she does, it’s going to be a long road to recovery.” He stares out the window overlooking the parking lot.

“Have the detectives been in yet?” I clench my jaw and look down at the old magazines spread across the plastic table, a chill coming from the air vent above me.

“Come and gone. You know how they are. ”

“What happened?” I can’t make eye-contact with him, or else I’ll lose everything. He’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a father figure, and I won’t let a mere feeling jeopardize my entire life.

“She’s cut up, pieces carved out, missing a foot and so much skin. She’s in and out of it. According to her, she was attacked and held against her will. And Lucy, I have news,” he mutters.

As he turns, his hand settling on my shoulder, my gaze fixates on the buttons embellishing his shirt.

Sweat beads down my back and nerves eat at my stomach, but I don’t flinch when he touches me.

“How could it possibly get worse?” I widen my eyes and twist my fingers together.

“She says that it was the Keepsake Killer. She could be the only one who got away.”

I wait for the rest of the story, that the location is my house, or that Billy is the person they’re looking for.

As the silence lingers, I can’t help but wonder if he’s concealing something or if she has no clue.

“Can we see her?”

“Just waiting for clearance. The detectives asked us to come down after we’ve visited her. Procedure, I’m sure, one of our own and all.”

I nod, not trusting my tongue to say another word.

“Here for Leah?” A nurse with a clipboard asks, and Artie nods. Dropping his hand to my elbow, he guides me along the way .

“I know you guys didn’t have a good relationship, but I don’t want that used against you,” he murmurs.

When we enter the single private room, Leah is lying against the pillows. Black and purple splotches adorn her face, while the blanket and nightgown conceal her swollen eyes and bandaged body.

“Shit,” Artie whispers.

I think of anything sad that’s ever happened in my life because, truthfully, I couldn’t care less about her current state. Karma came quicker than I expected. I keep my funeral facial expression on as we step closer to the bed.

A steady stream of oxygen flows through her nose, while IV fluids drip into her arm.

“Lucy,” she mumbles. Her brown eyes open, and her gaze is unfocused as she looks at us. “Danger.”

I glance at Artie, but he says nothing, and I clear my throat.

“Leah, what is it?” The last question I ever want to fucking ask her.

The machines next to her bed beep and make a racket and before long, a nurse is rushing in.

“It’s best if you guys go for now. The doctor may put her in a drug-induced coma, to help her brain heal.”

“Absolutely, whatever it takes. We wish her to get the best care she needs,” Artie says .

I catch my eyes mid-roll. I couldn’t give a fuck if she dies but I nod and walk out of the room with him.

When we reach the elevator, he turns to me. “Do you want me to drive you to the station?”

“Nah, I got my car. I’ll meet you there, yeah?”

He nods and squeezes my hand as we leave through the main entrance.

After parking next to Artie, I walk into the police station and we stand at the main entrance, twiddling our thumbs.

My limbs tremble with nerves, the impending encounter with authority figures igniting my anxiety, but I gather my courage and take a deep breath, standing tall.

“Mr. Bowers, Miss Warner?” A detective steps down the front stairs and holds out his hand. The station is loud with chatter, and disinfectant mixed with stale coffee hangs in the air.

“I’m Detective Shaw. Can you come back to answer some questions for me quickly?”

With a nod of understanding, we fall into step behind him, entering a small room with grey walls. A large table takes over most of it. Taking a seat in one of the fabric chairs, I can’t help but take a quick look around the space.

The room has an eerie atmosphere, with dark windows that give off the impression of being two-way mirrors. I feel like I’m being watched .

“We won’t take too much of your time, just wanted to talk to Leah’s friends and coworkers. How long have you known Leah?”

“I’ve been familiar with her since she started on the job. I’ve known everyone for such a long time.” Artie chuckles nervously.

“A few years,” I tell him. “We worked separate shifts most of the time.”

My focus remains fixed on the detective, trying to decipher the thoughts behind their intense stare. His ill-fitted brown suit jacket contrasts with his jeans and leather belt.

“We’ve talked to some of her friends who said you didn’t get along.” He continues to pace and runs a hand through his chestnut hair.

“Different personalities. You know how it can be,” Artie pipes up.

The detective’s focus doesn’t leave me. He arches an eyebrow before pulling out a notepad. “Her mother states that she was dating a man named Miles, who has disappeared.”

I maintain a poker face as I wet my lips and clasp my hands together on the table. “Heard about that. He was also dating me. Leah and I have always had our differences. She’s outgoing and bubbly, and I’m introverted, but I’d never wish ill harm on anyone.”

With a stern expression, the detective props himself up against the table, his disapproving click of the tongue echoing through the room .

“Have you heard about the Keepsake Killer?”

“Who hasn’t at this point? Pretty sick individual, eh?” Artie is my favourite man to break the tension literally anywhere he goes. “We can only do our best to keep vigilant of the situation.”

“Good. How do you feel about the killer, Lucy?”

“As surprised as anyone else. Can you imagine the lengths of psychological torture the loved ones go through? It’s got to be heartbreaking. Those poor people will never be the same, and the amount of planning that must go into something like that…I’m speechless.”

Arms folded across his chest, he locks eyes with both of us, his stare unwavering. A wave of dread washes over me, sending shivers down my spine.

“Right, well, you know the drill. Don’t leave the province. I’ll call if I have any further questions.”

As Shaw escorts us to the front entrance, I follow behind and then walk out to the lot with Artie, taking in the sights of parked cars and the smell of exhaust fumes.

“Get some sleep, Lucy. I feel like we’re gonna be in for a shitstorm.”

He slaps my shoulder before getting in his truck, and I do the same before driving away.

Once I’m home, I realize I’ve driven on autopilot, tuned out everything, and somehow arrived in my driveway .

Billy’s Cruze is parked ahead of me and I get out of the car quickly to head into the house, stopping when I see him on the porch swing. He’s wearing ripped jeans and a soft grey tee.

“You okay?” I ask.

“Mostly. I took care of everything. What happened?” He stares up at me before adjusting his hat and taking another drag from his cigarette.

I sigh and sit beside him.

“She’s claiming it was the Keepsake Killer, and before the nurse came in, she said something about danger.”

“Fuck. I swear to you, Lou, I thought she was dead.” He butts out his cigarette and leans forward with his head in his hands.

“I know,” I whisper.

“I love you so fucking much. I can’t believe I’ve put everything in jeopardy.”

My brows scrunch together, and I tilt my head. “What do you mean? We’ll get through this.”