“Exactly. Now, the police probably only focused their investigation on the seconds he was hit and the minutes after, trying to recognize the car or the driver when it was barely in the shot. But they didn’t think to look at what happened ahead of the hit.”
“I’ll be…” Scott said. “So, you’re saying it wasn’t a coincidence?”
“Nope. It was on purpose. Tommy was intentionally murdered by whoever drove this car.”
“Huh.”
“The question is, of course, still, who was behind that wheel? And I think I might have an answer to that as well—or at least a clue we can pursue.”
Scott smiled. “I hoped you’d say something like that. That’s why I came to you. And I take it you believe that whoever killed Tommy has also taken Sarah? Is that it?”
I nodded and sipped my coffee, secretly enjoying having impressed him. “It’s my theory that if we find him, we find Sarah, yes.”
“So, what is it?” he asked, clasping his hands excitedly. “The clue?”
I smiled secretively, then pointed at the screen where I had stopped the footage at the best picture of the car's right side. The image was grainy and of terrible quality, but I could still see enough.
“It’s a truck,” I said and pointed. “And not just any ordinary truck. Look at the stripe on the side. What’s written there?”
Scott looked closer. “Skyranger?”
“Exactly. It’s a Ford Skyranger. I’ve looked it up, and Ford only made twenty trucks of this type back in the nineties. And there’s only one registered with the DMV in the Orlando area. It’s far-fetched, but at least we have one.”
Scott smiled his handsome smile once again, and I felt myself getting pulled in by it. He saw me staring, and his eyes grew serious. Then he leaned forward and closed his eyes.
I gasped.
“Scott!”
I pulled back and pushed him. He opened his eyes and looked at me as I jumped down from my stool.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, his eyes deep with regret. “I am so sorry. I just…well…I guess I just got pulled back to the old days for a second. Don’t…don’t put anything into it. Please.”
I scrutinized his face to make sure he wasn’t lying to me, then eased up.
“I am about to be married, Scott. Don’t you ever try anything like that again. Do you hear me? Never.”
Chapter 27
She ordered the fresh-caught tuna and Peter a burger. They were sitting close together on the outside deck at Coconuts on the Beach. Lily had been with him almost constantly since the incident where she was certain the guy from the café was outside her house, looking in. The more she thought about it, though, the more she had come to terms with the fact that she had probably just imagined it because of what had happened earlier at the fitness club. She had thought she saw him there. That had to be why.
“Can I get you another one of those?” the woman in the tight tank top asked and pointed at Peter’s empty beer glass. He nodded, and she refilled it with a sweet smile. Lily felt a sudden discomfort and leaned into a kiss. Feeling Peter close made Lily feel more at ease, and as their lips parted, Peter caressed her cheek gently, looking into her eyes.
“I’ve missed this. Us.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy,” she said, looking down at her drink. “You know with the record deal and all that. I have to finish writing the last songs.”
“I know. You’re becoming a big star. And I get to say that I’m with you. I knew you before you became a household name. How cool is that?”
Peter took another bite of his burger, and Lily sat up straight. She had lost her appetite. She had given their relationship a lot of thought lately and wasn’t sure she wanted to be with him, or anyone for that matter, once she started her new career. She couldn’t have anyone holding her back from her big breakthrough, and this could be it. But how do you tell someone that? She hated to have to hurt him. She cared for him. On the other hand, she had worked to get this record deal for most of her life, and she couldn’t have any distractions. This was it. This was her shot.
She smiled awkwardly at him, then drank from her soda while looking away, avoiding Peter’s eyes. As she shot a look across the wooden porch area, her eyes suddenly locked with those from someone sitting at the tiki bar.
Lily could barely breathe.
“What the…”
Lily reached for Peter and grabbed his arm.
“What’s wrong? Lily? You look like you’re about to be sick.”
Lily swallowed, trying to push down the knot in her stomach, then leaned closer to him. “Look over there at the guy sitting at the bar.”
The guy had stopped looking at her and was paying for his beer, handing the bartender a bill. He then stood to his feet and was about to leave.
Lily got up. “Hey, mister!”
“What are you doing?” Peter asked. “Lily?”
But she was gone and already standing right in front of the guy as he turned to walk away. Startled, he looked down at her.
“Are you following me? Huh?” she asked, heart pounding. “I keep seeing you everywhere. At the café, at the fitness club, outside my house? Are you some kind of creepy stalker, huh?”
Peter came up behind her. This guy was double his age, but probably only half as fast. Plus, Peter was big. Seeing this, the guy lifted his hands in the air.
“Listen, lady. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve just been sitting here enjoying my beer.”
She was in his face. “I don’t believe you. I see you everywhere. I think I saw you outside of my house one morning when going to work too. I don’t like you.”
The guy stared at her, his eyes piercing into hers like he couldn’t take them away from her. They stood like that for a few seconds longer than felt comfortable before the guy finally looked away.
“I was just leaving,” he said.
Lily felt so angry she could scream. Sensing this, Peter placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s just go. He’s a nobody.”
She scoffed while the guy left.
“Yeah. You’re right. He’s no one.”
Chapter 28
A cold hand reached out and touched Sarah’s cheek, caressing it gently. A set of compassionate eyes looked into hers.
“You are so beautiful.”
“I feel awful.”
“Are you not feeling any better? Yesterday, you were coughing, and I was worried.”
Sarah stared at her jailer, blinking. The hand still touched her skin gently, rubbing up and down against it as you’d do to a child or a loved one. The feeling made Sarah tremble.
Her jailer narrowed their eyes. “You’re fine, aren’t you?”
Sarah lowered her head. She felt the nail inside of her fist, the pointy end poking her thumb.
“I think you are.”
“Why do you care?” Sarah asked, looking up again.
Her jailer looked surprised at the question.
“I care for you.”