Page 112 of Letters to the Lost

“Balding? Tattoo of a clover on his neck?” I ask, recalling one of the men who visited me.

Jane brought him home one night, introducing him as an uncle. Told me he’d be staying with us for a few nights on the sofa while he waited on a flight to somewhere new. That he needed to get out of town.

He crawled into my bed one night after a night of drinking with Jane and it became a nightly thing until he left.

“It can’t be him. The notes said…”

“We know what they said Autumn, but he claims your mom told him what Charlie used to call you. He wanted to scare you into running, hoping to grab you,” Dad interrupts.

“You caught him? How?”

“He was working for me…”

“Don’t start trying to cover for yourself now by downplaying this. Dad hired him to be a part of your surveillance team and practically gave him full access because he didn’t do his due diligence. We have him now Autumn, you can finally start to live your life,” Brenn grits out, forcing some happiness into his voice even when his eyes are blazing with anger.

“But I’m sure it’s Charlie. He’s the only one who ever called me that,” I try to tell them, pleading with them to believe me that it’s not Peter.

“Autumn. It is him, he had photos of you over his entire apartment, and he admitted to everything. I’m telling you this as your dad that we have the right man.”

“You won’t listen to me about this will you?” I ask, even as I know the answer to the question.

My shoulders slump as defeat washes over me, my heart breaking from all the revelations that have been thrown at me.

Looking over at my dad, his jaw set as he regards me, coolly.

“I will never forgive you,” I spit at him.

Turning around, I give him my back and walk from his office. I consider going back to my room, crawling between Atlas and Zander, and letting them comfort me but I can’t bring myself to.

Walking out to the lake instead, I make my way to Chlo’s resting place needing to be close to her.

Resting my head against the rough bark of the tree, the damp soil underneath me. I look up at the sky and start pouring my heart out to a ghost, the tears following as my heart breaks.

I will never forgive him for this.

I will never forget that he abandoned me, that he won’t believe me even as I beg for him too.

Chapter 42

Autumn

Ellie

You want to come with me

to the mall? 10:10 AM

Deciding to call her rather than message back, she answers quickly.

“I’ll come. I need to speak to you about something anyway,” I tell her.

“Oh! Are you pregnant?!” she asks, her voice concerned.

“God no. why does everyone always jump to that conclusion,” I laugh, “Why are you going shopping anyway? I thought you hated it.”

“Present for Shan’s birthday.”

“Shit! She didn’t say anything.”

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