I crumbled the paper in my hand, cracking my neck as the memories swarmed me, making it impossible to keep myself under control.
A knock at the door got my attention. I shoved the belongings back in the purse and picked up the gun from the bed, tucking it in the back of my shorts. I pressed myself against the door, looking through the peephole, paranoia taking over.
“Housekeeping,” an older woman called from the other side.
“No thanks. I’m checking out today,” I called back and watched as she shook her head and moved on to the next room.
I grabbed my phone from the bed and did a reverse search on the phone number that Ella had called.
It was a home phone, but the owner’s name and address wasn’t available. I forwarded the number to Trigger.
I need to know who owns this number and where to find them. Keep it on the DL.
A few minutes later he texted me back.
So fucking hungover. I’m on it.
I made my way to my bag, pulling out a clean pair of jeans and my dark-blue Lynyrd Skynyrd shirt. Dressing quickly, I thought over what had transpired. I couldn’t figure out Ella’s angle. She looked too young to be with the law. I looked over the gun. It wasn’t police issued. I emptied the clip, removing the bullet in the chamber as I thought about it being pointed at my heart. I stuck her gun in her purse and gathered my bag along with the other miscellaneous items around the room before leaving the hotel.
I needed to get across town to my mom’s, but walking away from my past had never been easy for me and knowing what I did now about Ella, she was somehow a part of it. In the daylight the alley where she accessed her apartment looked rundown and desolate.
I parked by the front door and climbed the stairs to her place. The eviction notice was still in place, and the lock hadn’t been removed. She still might return once she felt the coast was clear. I resisted the urge to find out. Instead I hurried down the three flights of stairs and got in my car, pulling off and heading down to the Lockhart Library, about five minutes away. Ella would be able to walk here, and it was the only other place I knew she might go. Just the thought of going back home made my stomach turn. I’d been avoiding the prying eyes, the looks of disappointment, and knowing if I ever saw Bryce, I’d finally finish what I’d started.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about killing him in just about every way imaginable. He tainted Katie, soiled her innocence, and destroyed her life.
The fact that he was still left breathing was only a matter of luck.
Honest
Chapter 19—Ella
Honest: free of deceit
I should have seen the signs, been aware of when someone was taking advantage of me. I shook my head at the thought. He didn’t take advantage of me. He was curious as to why I was searching for him, and I practically threw myself at him.
I still didn’t have my answers, and if I was honest with myself, I wasn’t seeking the truth. I was seeking revenge.
I rubbed the back of my hand over my nose as I thought of my doll my mother had made me. It was my only connection to her, and it was gone, possibly forever.
I couldn’t go to my apartment or to work, knowing now that Maric was close to Ryder. As a person who prided herself on being a loner, I’d never felt this alone in my entire life. It was a dull aching in my chest, as if the world were closing in on me. I was going to break down. Focusing on righting the wrongs of my past had always kept me going, but I’d hit a wall.
Maybe it was time to accept that those who’d hurt me were going to get away with it, moving on to new victims. But Ryder was a different kind of animal. I pretended I was strong as a means of self-preservation, but Ryder was the real deal. He was a beast and willing to do what beasts do. It terrified me. I’d wanted to meet him on my own terms, to know he could be trusted.
I slipped into the back corner of the library where computers lined the wall. I sat down at the one in the corner, to allow myself some privacy if anyone else showed. Most people had access to the Internet at home, so I was usually left to myself.
I pulled up the search page and typed in Silver Lake Hospital. There were endless pages for the facility. Even though Ryder was a minor when Katie died and his name left from the news, the online articles all had lengthy comment sections where others were not as quiet about his identity. I was hoping for another lucky lead.
“You’re not going to find patient information on the Internet.” Ryder’s voice in my ear caused me to jump. I spun around, my eyes scanning the empty room.
“You forgot your shoes.” He glanced down at my bare feet as he held up a pair of my sandals.
“I left in a hurry.”
“So you did.” He tossed the shoes on the ground, the sound echoing in the quiet space.