Page 122 of Always Knew It Was You

I bend over to see the monitor better, identifying the camera that has the best view of the park. Then I maximize that on the screen and rewind it by minutes until Carly appears again. And when she does, my heart catches.

She’s talking to a man. I can’t see his face, only his back in a long, wool coat and a hat. He’s slender and bent, like someone elderly.

And Carly is gesturing and smiling like he’s familiar to her. Who on earth is he? She doesn’t know anyone in New York as far as I know, so it would have to be someone from Laketown. But who from Laketown would be in the Upper East Side?

Maybe Emma would know.

As I watch Carly and the man walk out of view, I immediately dial Declan’s number.

“Your timing is terrible as always, Micah.” Declan answers in a roughened voice, which gives me a hint as to what he’s doing. What I should be doing with Carly right now, if she weren’t missing.

“I don’t care,” I say tersely. “Someone took Carly.”

That gives him pause. “What do you mean someone took Carly? Who?”

“Well, if I knew, I wouldn’t be talking to you. Listen, I’m going to send you a video of her going off with some guy. It looks like she knew him. I need you and Emma to watch the video and tell me if you recognize him.”

“Um, okay, sure. But this is just… hang on, Emma, I’ll explain everything in a second. Micah, are you in New York?”

“Yes. At my grandfather’s home. They took her from the park. She followed him somewhere and now she’s missing.”

“Um… are you sure she’s not just busy? Maybe she’s helping him out.”

“Her purse and her bag were left behind. I’m about to call the police, Declan, but first I need to understand what we’re dealing with.”

Declan is quiet for a bit before sighing. “Okay. Send the video.”

I hang up and do just that, expecting he’s probably telling Emma what I just told him. Good. Maybe Emma knows more about what’s going on if it’s about that damn pearl. Heck, get Amelia on the case. She is more of a detective than anyone.

And then I wait in excruciating silence while I try not to think about what Carly might be going through right now.

Who the fuck took her? And why?

Why her and not me? If they wanted the damn pearl they could have just taken me and I would have given it to them. I’ll give it to them now if they ask. Whatever ransom they want for Carly, I’ll pay it. I just want her back.

But if they do anything to her, I will not rest until I destroy them all.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

CARLY

I don’t know how long I’ve been here.

I stare out the window at the setting sun, fear tightening my stomach. It’s been hours at least. The two men have me in a dingy trailer that probably belonged to a hoarder at some point with how much random crap is lying around. There’s a coat of dust over everything and mold on the walls, which has me sneezing every couple of minutes. One of those sneezes nearly turns into a sob.

But I refuse to cry. I don’t have time to despair. I need to figure out a way out of here.

The men are standing right outside the door. I see their silhouette against the thin wood. I wish I could hear what they’re talking about. I wish I at least knew what they wanted from me so that maybe I could negotiate my release. They haven’t made any demands of me yet. They’ve just kept me lying here on the floor with my hands and feet tied behind me and no hope for escape.

No.My breath hitches as panic threatens.I can’t think like that.There’s always hope. I just need to find it.

I have a lot to fight for. For Micah. For my baby. For my family and friends and my damn degree that I worked so hard for. I’m going to get out of this and I’m going to survive and thrive. I won’t let them break me, no matter what comes.

When the door creaks open, I hold onto that resolve despite the fear pounding in my heart. Black boots approach me and I stare at them unblinkingly, unflinching. The bile rises in my throat, the stale scent of urine stinging my nostrils. I wonder how many people they’ve done this to, how many have been in the same position I am right now. I wonder how many of them survived.

You will survive. They won’t break you.

The Burned Man reaches down and grabs my shoulders. I flinch then, but he only sits me up and leans me against the wall. I refuse to show my fear. I stare at him dead in his cold eyes.

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