Page 178 of The Secret We Keep
“How do you know?”
My hand slams against the dashboard when Jerry takes a hidden dip too fast. “I just do,” I say rushed, not telling him to slow down, though, as my eyes frantically search outside, looking for any signs of Morgan driving this way.
Where are you, curly fries?
“Paddy.” His ominous tone makes my head snap forwards.
Driving round the sharp bend, my car comes into view, facing the corner shop. The lights are on full beam and the wipers on fast speed.
“Morgan.” Jerry brings his car to an immediate stop, throwing us both forward. We undo our seatbelts in unison, rushing from the car and heading towards mine. It doesn’t appear to have been hit. There’s no visible damage.
“She must have lost control,” I say, a slither of relief skating through me as the rain begins coming down in pelts.
It’s short lived.
“She’s not here.” Jerry opens the doors frantically.
No.
“Where is she?” he demands to know, but I can’t think.
Unable to make any sense of why Morgan ran, terror makes light work of stabbing my heart, causing pain to sear across my chest.
“I don’t know.”
Another car makes its way down the hill, coming towards us.
Jerry waves his arms, warning them of my car in the middle of the road.
Headlights flash, and a horn blares agonisingly loud, forcing me to look away from the empty driver’s seat of my car.
We both stare, blinded by the lights and the pain.
The car stops with a screech. “Paddy?” I hear Pops’ voice before I see him, and my feet move on instinct.
“Pops?”
He opens his car door, pulling me into his arms when I reach him.
“Did you find her?” he asks, the worry in his low voice palpable.
I step back, my clothes sticking to me now. “No,” I answer hoarsely, looking back to my car, one hand rubbing at my chest where, if I didn’t know any better, I might be convinced I was going to die from a broken heart.
“Don’t worry, son, we’re here to help.”
“Kevin, no,” Evie screeches, making me spin back to look at her.
The rear end of Kevin hurtles off into the dead of night.
“You brought Kevin?”
Evie pushes her way out of Pops’ car. “I thought he could help!”
Pops reaches for her, but he misses as she runs off too. “Evie, get back here.”
I start running after her. My girlfriend isn’t here, so the least I can do is not let a child get lost because of me. “I’ll get them. Help Jerry.” I point back at him. “Fi, I need you.”
I don’t have time to wait for her, knowing how quick the dog is and how determined Evie will be to catch him.
