Page 29 of Erase Me
“Nothing.”
I shook my head and trailed after the hostess as she guided us to our table outside.Our table gave us a view of the ocean on the south side of the pier.A few hundred yards along the shore, a pedestrian bridge crossed over the railroad tracks.Near it, a large number of surfers were grouped up in the water.Even from a distance, I could tell that the waves were larger there than the ones on the north side of the pier.
Once we were seated, a server promptly appeared, taking our orders for drinks and appetizers.When she was gone, Reed pulled off his sunglasses and leaned forward, reaching across the table to hold my hand.
“How did you get that bruise on your ribs?”
Beneath the furrowed brows, there was concern in his eyes.The contrast between the person I knew him to be and the caring expression I could see on his face now was significant.He seemed genuinely worried, but he still had no clue as to who I really was.
“I ran into a wall while I was answering your text.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Says the man who doesn’t pay attention to where he’s walking.”I freed my hand and touched his cheek just below the bruise.
“Fair enough.”He leaned back.“As long as you’re okay.”
“I’m perfectly fine.No worries whatsoever.”
“By the way, have any more of your girlfriends shown up?”
“Not yet.But tomorrow is another day.”
Our server arrived with our drinks and assured us that the appetizers were on their way.
“So, what did you and Pat do this morning?”
I wrapped my hand around the cold drink but resisted taking a sip until I had some food in my belly.He wasn’t giving up.Was it possible that he was doubting her existence?
“The things girlfriends do when they haven’t seen each other for a year,” I said.“We talked.What did you do?”
“Some business calls.Went for a run.Straightened up the apartment with the hope that someone would be coming by.”
He paused, leaned back in his chair, and reached into his pocket.
“Oh...”He took something out and placed it on the table between us.
I stared at my immobilizer.He’d found the weapon.
“This was wedged between the cushions of the sofa.Is it yours?”
ChapterSeven
Reed
I supposeit wasnurtureand notnaturethat bred mistrust in me.
Losing my mother when I was just ten years old forced me to grow up fast.With my father being in the military and my brother significantly older, I found myself navigating through life’s challenges without support.
However, perhaps it wasn’t solely the absence of family that shaped me but later, the nature of my profession.Doing what I did for over a decade did manage to instill in me a constant skepticism.It was essential for survival in my line of work.The trait led me to question everything, search for clues, and identify dishonesty when confronted with it.
In that moment, Avalie’s split-second pause was long enough for me to know that whatever she said next in way of explanation would be a lie.
“Yes, yes.That’s mine.What a relief!I’m so glad you found it.”
I’d expected her to deny that it was hers, but I realized she had to be prepared for my question.
She reached across the table to grab it, but I placed my hand on top of hers.I knew well enough the damage this little device could do.In the hands of someone who knew how to use it, the weapon could stun and immobilize a man my size for hours.
