Page 50 of Double Edged Hearts
I thought about calling Alex, but I quickly realized I couldn’t do that. Or, rather that I shouldn’t. I can’t talk to Alex and drag him into this shit, and I won’t call Lyndsey either.
I don’t want anyone investigating her and seeing I made contact. I won’t put her in danger.
I plan to leave the phone somewhere before I board my flight so no one can use it to track me.
It’s time to go. It’s super early and I just hope I can get out of here before anyone finds me.
I leave the apartment and lock the door hoping I can come back soon to get my other stuff. When I came here, I thought I was going to be here for a while, so I bought things to make the place feel homely. I shake the thoughts out of my head. None of that is important now.
I make my way down the corridor and get in the elevator, taking it down to the parking lot. As I step out, I get this prickly sensation running down my spine. It feels like someone is watching me. It’s not Alex though. I don’t feel like this when it’s him.
So, if it’s not him, who is it?
Am I being paranoid?
I’ve been paranoid since I left work, paranoid since I heard the truth.
I still my breathing and walk down the path. Just before I turn down to the bay where my car is parked, someone clears their throat loudly.
I stop and whirl around to see Zack walking behind me.
“Good morning,” he says and glances down at his watch. “I never figured you to be the early bird.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask, my lips trembling.
“I came to see you, Cora. It seems that you are a lot more interesting than I originally thought, and what I first saw I liked.”
I back away as he steps closer.
“What are you talking about?”
“I think you know full well what I’m talking about. You were in the building last night, weren’t you? I saw you on the CCTV.”
Oh God, it is him. It was him who was talking to Matvey. Bastard… it was him who obviously helped kill Giles too.
I try to keep my cool so as not to give myself away. I need to run and get to my car. I just need to get there, and then I can get away from him.
“There were several people at work last night. I don’t know what you mean.”
“Cut the shit. I know it was you. You heard a thing or two you shouldn’t have, Cora. You know what my one regret is?” he says.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I continue to maintain.
“I wished I’d fucked you well before now. Before you signed your death warrant.”
I’m done. It’s time to run. I turn and run for all I’m worth, but he’s faster.
He catches up to me and grabs me from behind, making me drop my bag.
I scream in the hopes someone will hear me, but it’s to no avail. There’s no one around at this hour.
I kick him, running the heel of my pumps down his shin, and he yelps, loosening his grip on me. I take advantage of the moment to kick him in his face and sprint toward my car.
I run as fast as I can, but I don’t make it. A black van pulls out in front of me, coming up from the level below. The side door opens, and two men jump out.
I try to retreat and run the opposite way, but they grab me. I’m snatched, lifted off the ground like little more than a ragdoll. I scream and scream, but it’s useless. No one comes.
They put me in the van and drive away.
As the van speeds out of the parking lot, I cry.
I cry for everything.
I cry for Alex.
He tried to warn me. He didn’t want me to work on this case.
I don’t think I’ll ever see him again.
As the bald guy with a nasty scar on his left cheek leers at me, I think I won’t see anyone ever again.
