“There’s different kinds of crazy in my life, sweetie.”
“No shit,” I say.
Mac laughs. “I love seeing you get all worked up.”
Mac turns down the quiet, side road that leads to the warehouse.
I’m not sure I like the idea of just hiding out in a warehouse while he’s out there doing… whatever it is he has to do…
Is it better than Mama Dae’s house?
I guess I’m going to find out.
Mac parks next to one of the giant garage doors.
I get out of the car and follow him to the door.
Inside, I’m overwhelmed once again by the sight of all his vehicles.
“Come here, sweetie,” he says.
He takes my hand and walks me to another door.
He opens it and there’s a table in the middle of the floor.
“You can hang out here if you want,” he says. “The most important thing is you have to keep the main doors shut, okay? But the rest of the place is yours.”
“To do what?” I ask.
“Whatever you want,” Mac says. “Write a story. Or a book. Draw something. Take a nap. Climb into the backseat of one of the cars and enjoy your own company.”
I slap his arm. “That’s something Taz would say.”
He hugs me. “I just need you here right now. It won’t be long. I just have-”
“Some business,” I say. “I know the drill.”
Mac steps back and touches my face. “If you really want to do something, think about what we have to do. What you have to do. We’re going to get the truth about everything together, sweetie.”
I nod.
Mac kisses me. “I’ll be right back.”
He slips out of the room.
I slowly turn and look around.
The floor is perfectly smooth concrete.
The walls are made of stone.
There’s no windows.
There’s nothing on the walls either.
It’s like some secret room.
The fluorescent light above me has the faintest buzz and when my ears pick it up it becomes the most annoying sound in the world to me.
The table is solid.
I assume this is where Mac and his crew sit and make decisions.
It’s almost too much to believe.
But I have to believe it.
It’s Mac.
And I’m literally seeing it.
I step back from the table, shaking my head.
I bump into something and let out a scream.
That something… is a someone…
Hands touch my arms as I turn.
“What the hell are you doing in here?”
I want to scream but when I realize it’s just Taz, I catch myself.
He jumps back, laughing at me.
Les walks into the room next.
“What the fuck, Taz?” he asks.
“I’m just messing around,” Taz says.
“I don’t think it’s funny at all,” I say.
“You’re not supposed to be in here, darling,” Taz says.
“Mac let me in,” I say.
“Oh… well… then that makes it okay…”
“How are you doing, Jolie?” Les asks.
“I’m wonderful, Les,” I say. “I have no idea who tried to attack me in my apartment. I almost got caught by the cops. And apparently my father has been fucking someone on the side and is planning on running away with that person. Oh, and I’m still kind of pretending to be kidnapped…”
“Sounds like an adventure to me,” Taz says.
“Want to trade spots?” I ask.
“Yes,” Taz says. “Because if I become you then I’m best friends with Violet. And I can just cuddle up to her and pretend to be sad. Looking for a little kiss. Just one kiss on the cheek. Then another. Then another. Then one to her lips. Then I can-”
“I’m sorry I said anything,” I say.
Mac walks back into the room and looks around. “What’s going on?”
“Taz scared the hell out of Jolie,” Les says.
“Way to throw me under the bus,” Taz says.
Les shrugs his shoulders.
“We have to go,” Mac says. “We’re taking the truck.”
“You got it,” Taz says. He looks at me and smiles. “Good to see you again, Jolie. Of course I have to pretend I didn’t see you.”
I roll my eyes at him.
Him and Les leave the room.
Mac grabs my hand and walks me out of the room.
He shuts the door behind him.
He points to an SUV. “That one has an entertainment system in it.” He dangles a key in front of my face. “Obviously don’t start it in here.”
“Obviously,” I say.
“Just run it off the battery. You can watch anything you want. I’ll be in touch in a little while.”
He kisses me and walks to one of the big pickup trucks.
He gets behind the wheel and drives through the open garage door.
The door then automatically shuts.
That final boom of the door hitting the ground makes me feel lonely.
I look around the warehouse.
I walk to the SUV and climb into the backseat.
It’s actually not a bad setup at all.
The seats are leather and really comfortable.
The entertainment system works just like Mac said.
I’m able to watch anything I want.
Instead, I just put on some music.
I curl up on the seat in the giant hoodie I’m in and I try not to think about anything.
Which is impossible to do.
I can’t stop thinking about the truths Mac wants to find.
And I can’t stop thinking about Mama Dae.
I honestly don’t know if she’s a good person or not, but either way, she’s sick, suffering, and it’s only going to get worse.
My heart aches for her.
I shut my eyes and try to just listen to the music.
I start to feel really comfortable.
And tired.
So I keep my eyes shut.
When I open them again, I reach for my phone.
The time on the screen can’t be right.
I fell asleep for an hour?
I pop up on the backseat of the SUV.
I’m not one to take naps.
But I was just so comfortable…
Then again, what does it matter?
It’s not like I need to be anywhere.
I haven’t heard from Mac yet either.
I shut the music off and open the SUV door and climb out.
I have to find something else…
My eyes see the door is open.
The door to the room with the table.
I check my phone again.
Is Mac here?
I don’t see the truck he took.
He left his car parked out front though so maybe the truck is there too.
I walk toward the open door and peek inside.
“Hello?” I whisper.
There’s nobody in the room.
I walk to the table and look around.
The other door is cracked just a little.
There’s a room off this room.
Like the warehouse is some kind of maze or something.
I walk to that door and put my hand to it and open it.
There’s a safe on the floor.
And it’s open.
Someone is on one knee in front of the safe.
Someone in a hoodie with the hood up.