Page 158 of Don't Leave Me

“Come on, sweetheart,” Jack smiled at me and got up, outstretching his hand for me to take. “Let’s get some lunch and then we’ll take some lovely pictures of ourselves for the world to see.”

* * *

Billie.

I stayed up until 3 AM waiting to hear something, anything from the police or from Michael about Hana and Jack’s whereabouts. I had the overwhelming feeling that the police weren’t going to do much about Hana’s situation – they just didn’t believe us. And why should they? It looked so obvious that Hana was having some sort of episode, that she had just run out on Michael and now Michael and I were foolish enough to come up with some ridiculous story to get Hana to come home. Why didn’t I just make Hana run out of that restaurant with me? I knew she was in danger and I just let her leave. Where in the fuck where they now? I felt so helpless and guilty and I knew that Michael had felt the same. He argued with Officer Dan for over an hour outside of Jack’s apartment building and still got no solid answers.

I was jolted awake at 9 AM from my phone violently buzzing on my nightstand: it was Michael.

“Hey,” I answered, already wide awake and waiting for whatever update he was about to give me.

“They withdrew cash from their cards at Port Authority. There hasn’t been any word since. Dan thinks they took a bus or train somewhere and want to be left alone,” Michael explained, his voice defeated.

My heart sank. “Can’t they pull up surveillance from Port Authority? Can’t we…I don’t know, file a missing person’s report?” I asked, stunned.

“I asked the same questions. They need a warrant to pull up surveillance from Port Authority and they don’t have enough to get one. We can’t file a missing person’s report yet because you saw her last night and they want to wait at least 24 hours,” he answered, his voice coarse like he had been screaming all night.

“This is fucking ridiculous!” I yelled to myself, starting to cry now. “This is just…this is so fucking unfair,” I started pacing in my bedroom now.

“I know, Billie,” Michael agreed, like he had been through this all already.

“So, what…we have to wait another 12 hours before we can even do anything else? I’m afraid to call her too much – I already texted her to see how she was doing, to make it seem like I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but I haven’t heard anything yet. Should we call her? Should we call Jack?” I stammered out.

“Can we get Adam and Emily involved somehow? Maybe they’ll know more,” Michael asked inquisitively.

“I can ask Emily if she’s heard from her. I can have her have Adam try to find out where they are,” I perked up immediately.

“Do that and get back to me, please,” Michael responded quickly. “I’ll try Emily as well.”

* * *

HANA.

We took a cab to another hotel’s lobby and entered the sleek, chic restaurant hand in hand, the ring on my finger still feeling odd and new. The relief that Michael and everyone I loved would be safe left me suddenly feeling depressed for my new life – the one as a real life Barbie doll bride for my new controlling, unpredictable husband. I put on my best act as we were in public though, and gave Jack a dazzling smile as we sat down at a table near the window.

“Lets have someone take a picture of us,” Jack suggested after we ordered food, motioning for the server again.

The polite woman that took our order came back eagerly.

“Could you please take a picture of us together? We just got engaged,” he announced, handing her his phone with a smile.

“Oh! Congratulations!” she squealed, turning to me with a smile.

I smiled back instinctively.

“Come on, love. Come sit on my lap,” Jack reached out his hand for me.

I didn’t hesitate to sit on his lap, my long hair flowing past my shoulders as I wrapped one arm around him and he snugly pressed me against him, putting one hand on my thigh.

“What a gorgeous couple! Say cheese,” the server smiled as she pointed Jack’s phone at us.

I tried with all my might to give a natural, happy smile. I may have even been smiling for real – I was relieved that I wasn’t going to be the cause of Michael’s death, and that Jack was letting me out in the real world and being nice to me. It was much better than being cooped up in his loft for days on end.

“Perfect!” she handed Jack back his phone.

“Thanks very much,” he smiled up at her, then looked down at the picture on his phone as she walked away, still holding onto me so I wouldn’t budge. I looked at the photo and we made a convincing, cute couple. I did an amazing job at looking happy; I even showed teeth, and Jack gave his adorable, shy, dimpled smile to the camera.

“Look at how perfect we look together,” Jack said cheerily, rubbing his hand on my back now, as if the photo were proof that everything was fine now.

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