Where Is She?: Look, before it's too late. by Marlene Ridgway

Author:Marlene Ridgway [Ridgway, Marlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2022-06-19T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

It’s odd to share the details with someone other than Maya. I explain how I kept the journal, skimming over the fact that I deliberately hid it from the police, how I started reading it, and finally about the Irish guy who seems to be stalking me. My cheeks redden when I mention reading Cassie’s journal, but I move on quickly, and he doesn’t seem to dwell on the fact. Instead, he cringes when I tell him about Detective Bridge and my recent trip to the department. Then, I explain how Maya and I found the bar and how that led me here. I try to stay vague, not completely ignoring the warning bells in my head.

John Doe, or Sam, huffs when I tell him about my open apartment door. His shoulders are tight, and his fingers are intertwined on the table in front of him. I skip the part about Cassie’s inner debate about who she should protect, her brother or Liam. But a few times while I’m talking, he glances away and clenches his fists. If he doesn’t know, he guesses about the gaps in my story and what Cassie wrote about him.

“I was just trying to see if she was okay,” I finally add. There’s more silence, and I consider carefully how to ask my next question. “So, was Liam the one …” I broach the topic, but his eyes flash to mine in anger.

“What did the guy look like? The Irish guy?” he finally asks, changing the subject from his stab wounds.

Trying to think back, I explain, but he cuts me off.

“It has to be one of Liam’s brothers. Liam will be laying low since they heard I made it. They have to know if they were at the hospital, keeping a close eye out.” He says the words out loud, but they’re more for his benefit than mine. I shudder, thinking about the man at the hospital and why he was there.

“What did he say to you at the hospital?”

I tell him again, trying to keep up with the information being slung at me and piece it together with what I already know. But the more questions he asks, the more questions I have.

“If you used to be a cop, can’t we just go to the police? I mean, tell them that Liam’s …”—my eyes instinctively go to the bandage under his hat—“just turn them in. I mean, at least you’ll know Cassie is safe.”

Sam pauses to look at me long and hard. “We can’t go to the police. It would be like sticking a target on our backs.” His words come out slow. “You saw it yourself. Everyone in this city is on Liam’s payroll. Even the cops would turn on you before they crossed him.” His words make my throat go dry. “He’ll have the police waiting for me to turn up, and you won’t want to be around if that happens.”

He pushes his hat up on his forehead to wipe away some sweat, and I get a more straightforward look at the bandage that is stained with blood.

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