Page 9 of Say Now
It took her a few seconds to wake up enough to remember where she was.After taking a late flight and driving through the mountains and the night, she had worked long into the late morning before going back to her motel room to sleep.She had slept deeply, and she was still in a sleep state.
A buzzing.
Not a fly in her ear or a wasp in the room, but her phone on the bedside table.That was what was casting the glow on the ceiling.She sat up.There was light coming from behind the drawn curtains.She picked up her phone.It was a little after four.Derek was calling.
"Hello?"she answered.
"Hey," Derek said."Did I catch you at a bad time?You sound…I don't know."
"I just woke up," Alison said."I hope my sleep schedule is not going to be all out of whack now.I didn't get to bed until noon."
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"No, no, it’s fine.It’s probably good that I don't sleep much longer than this.I can’t be on opposite sleep schedules to everyone else."
"Then, you’re welcome," Derek chimed.
Alison laughed.Perhaps it was the lack of sleep, but she felt some exhilaration talking with Derek.She was asleep, and now she was awake; she was floating, and now she was grounded.He helped to settle her.Then a lump grew in her throat.She didn't like being away from him.
"Hey, you okay?"he asked."You went quiet."
"No, it’s fine.I’m just getting used to things here."
"How’s it looking?"he asked.
"One dead, and I think more will come if we don't catch this guy.I’m basically investigating the murder of the Montana version of me.On the surface, anyway.She does the same job, received death threats, and someone came after her.The only difference is she’s dead.I have a Special Agent who wants to prove herself, but she’s been helpful so far.Then, there’s the victim’s brother.I think he’s going to be trouble, and I don't know if I can stop that.Other than that, I don't have anything.We have a dozen different threads to follow, but no connection between any of them yet.I’m sure it's a revenge killing, I just need to figure out who wants to get revenge."
"I wish I were there to help you," Derek said.
"Yeah, I wish that too," Alison admitted.
"And I wish you were back here," he said.
It was a weird thing to say when she had come out to try to solve a murder.Derek was a rational guy, which meant something was going on back home.
"What’s happened?"she asked.
"I don't want to get your hopes up just yet, but I think I found him."
"Morris Bridges?"she asked.Inside, she didn't react.She didn’t want to get her hopes up either.
"Yeah.I don't know if we’ll be fully sure until we talk with him, but the timelines match.He’s currently serving three three-year sentences in Oregon for stalking his ex-girlfriend and then assaulting her.I don't want to go there without you, Alison.I mean, of course, I want to go talk to him and see if there is anything to this, but you should be there for the first interview.I don't want to miss anything."
"I have to be there," Alison said."I don't want anyone to talk with him until I get back."
"Then that’s what will happen," Derek said."I’ll monitor his situation, but he’s not going anywhere for at least another year.We’ll see what we can get from him."
She could hear the undertone of excitement in his voice, but he didn't want to get excited by the development, and neither did she.She wouldn’t let her emotions take over, or she might leave Montana and head straight for Oregon.
"I’m needed here," she said."I need to figure this case out, and then I’m going to figure out my sister’s case."
"Then get off the phone and catch this guy," Derek said.
"I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, everything youaredoing for me."
"That goes both ways," he said."Now go, so you can get back here that much sooner."
" I-I'll talk to you soon," she said, biting her tongue.She almost said something else in her fugue, something much more endearing.
