Page 68 of Moth
Chapter Sixteen
Iwake up feeling more exhausted than if I’d never slept at all. I change into a pink sundress Mara gave me that I can get away with wearing without underwear. Then I run to a nearby corner store and buy deodorant and toothpaste, and then return to the shop to wash up as best as I can in the staff bathroom.
I’ll go home later, when I have the energy to deal with the potential fallout. Later…
Apart from that looming deadline, it might as well be a normal day. I start on the tasks that still need to be done, and Mr. Zhang pops in to tell me that the final arrangements have been made to fix the window by the end of the week. He merrily heads off to the insurance office for the paperwork, and I do what I can to clear the space around the window.
It’s a little after noon when I happen to glance up and spy a woman peering in through the front door. She doesn’t seem to notice the sign still affixed to the front of it. Or she doesn’t care.
Sighing, I step from around the counter and open it. “We’re closed—”
“Hello, Hannah.” She’s tall with short light-brown hair cut bluntly at her chin. A heavy coat sets her apart from the locals dressed in light clothing, as if she’s woefully out of her element in this climate. But her face… I recognize it instantly. Though I’m drawing primarily off someone with similar, younger-looking features. Those bright blue eyes. Golden brown hair.
“Please,” the woman pleads as I lurch for the door handle. “I just want to talk.”
“I’m busy.” I try to close the door, but she blocks it with her hand.
“Please.”
“How did you even know I work here?”
She cuts her gaze away, biting her lip. “After the article on you… I thought I’d put it all behind me. But seeing your name again, I couldn’t.” She sighs and runs a trembling hand through her hair. “So I hired a private detective to help me find you. I just want to ask you one thing, and I need you to look me in the eye when I do.”
I should slam the door in her face. Run. I don’t know why I don’t.
Guilt? Deep down, a part of me knows the truth I don’t want to face. She doesn’t deserve any of this.
“Do you know what happened to her?” she demands. “Do you know what happened to my daughter?” She holds my gaze with an intensity that makes me look down at the pavement.
“No.” I try to close the door again. “Please, go—”
“Wait! When Lexi… She had a bracelet, but they never found it. She wore it everywhere. But seeing as how you were so close with her. Do you know what happened to it?”
“No. I’m sorry, but I don’t.” I step inside the shop and close the door before she can stop me.
“Hannah!” She knocks. “Hannah, please!”
The sound becomes insistent. I slam my hands over my ears, but I still hear her.
“I’ll leave my card. If you remember anything, please. Just call me.”
I don’t move. Just when I think she’s finally gone, the door shudders again.
“Leave me alone!”
“Hannah?” The voice isn’t a woman’s this time.
I whirl around to find Liam on the other end, his expression puzzled.
My hands shake as I wrench the door open and force a grin. “Hey…”
“Hey.” He eyes me warily, his hands in the pockets of a navy jacket. I notice that he’s not wearing his uniform today, swapping it out for a shirt and a pair of jeans. “Your brother seems to be worried about you,” he says. “He wanted me to keep an eye out. Everything okay between you two?”
In some ways, it’s alarming that Branden isn’t here himself and sent a proxy instead. I may avoid him, but he knows I don’t have it in me to shun everyone.
“We’re fine,” I croak.
Liam nods. “Well, if you’re not busy, I could spot you for a coffee, and you can bitch to me about him.”
