Page 16 of Zero
She smiled. “Ask me if I regret it.”
“Do you regret it?”
Bailey shook her head. “Yes. I regret it so much I’m going to do it again.”
I tapped her nose with a finger.
At the end of the night, Justice dropped me home with Bailey riding shot-gun. I wanted to ask Bailey to come inside but I knew what would happen. There was no controlling what I wanted to do with and to her. It was better if she went home and slept off the booze.
Same went for me.
“Good night.” Bailey called after me.
I waved and let myself into the house.
I did nothing but brush my teeth, took an aspirin and drank an entire bottle of water.
But things abruptly changed the next day. Justice was supposed to pick me up so we could go shopping at the markets in St. Ann’s Bay. When he didn’t show up, I called.
No answer.
I was just about to call Bailey when I noticed her name flashing on my phone. I grabbed it.
“Good morning, Hoshi.” I greeted her.
“Is Justice with you?” Bailey asked.
“He was supposed to be.” I replied. “Why?”
“Um…I’m at his place right now and it looks like a bomb hit it.”
“Okay, calm down.” I told her. “Give me the address and I will come to you. Don’t touch anything.”
“But—”
“No, Hoshi.” I told her sternly, while rushing through the house to gather my gun and badge. “I need you to trust me, okay? Get out of the house. Park somewhere else and I will call you when I get there. I’m on my way.”
“Okay—please hurry.”
Chapter 4
Bailey
The moment I got off the second call with Rei, I left where I had parked and made my way to my brother’s place. I found Rei in the front yard, leaning on his jeep. The moment I approached him, he framed my face, stared into my eyes, then pulled me into his chest for a hug.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
“Yes. But I’m worried about Justice.”
“Okay. We’ll take a look inside to see what we can find.” He laid out the immediate plans. He pulled out a box of gloves from the back of the jeep and handed me a pair. “Touch nothing without wearing these.”
I nodded.
He took my hand and led me back inside.
The place was a bloody mess. His stereo system was ripped out of the wall and lying busted on the floor. Drawers pulled out and the contents littering the ground.
Someone had cut through the sofa cushions, pulled all the pictures from the wall and smashed all the plates and wine glasses.
