I let out a sigh of relief. Thank God. She was fine.
“What’s going on?”
“They’re in town. They’re passing around her picture and asking if anyone has seen her,” I said.
“Damn, they’re fast,” he commented. “But yeah, she’s fine. Is Eli with you?”
“He was working on the other side of town. Could you give him a call? I didn’t have a chance to yet. I just wanted to get home as fast as I could.”
“Yeah, I’ll call him. I think it’s best if we get everyone back here. We need to be on high alert.”
“I couldn’t agree more, brother. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“Drive safe,” he said before hanging up.
Ooo000ooo
I pulled into the driveway and stopped short of my usual parking space. I shut off the engine of the truck and hurried toward the front door. Everything was quiet as far as I could tell, which should have been a relief. But I wouldn’t feel right until I saw Emmy myself.
Until I could hold her in my arms again.
I busted through the front door and called out for her. “Emmy?” No answer, but that didn’t mean anything. She might not have heard me. I rushed up the steps and saw Sam perched outside my bedroom door. He was sitting in a chair playing on his phone.
“Where is she?”
“She’s in there,” he said, hooking a thumb at the door. “I think she’s asleep, so I didn’t want to bother her.”
“Thanks, man,” I said, reaching for the doorknob. I turned it slowly, trying to be as quiet as possible. If she were asleep, I wanted her to remain that way. She needed her rest.
My eyes fell on the bed as soon as the door opened. It was empty. My heart raced, but I told myself it didn’t mean anything. Where would she have gone?
“Emmy?” I called, walking into the room and heading for the bathroom.
The door was open, light was off. I stepped inside the small bathroom and she wasn’t in there. I scanned the room again; no sign of her.
My closet door was ajar, and I walked over to it, opening it in case she was hiding in there for some reason. But she wasn’t. The only thing I noticed was that someone had gone through my clothes.
Dammit. Where is she?
“What the hell?” Sam’s voice spoke from behind me.
A wind blew through the room, rustling the blinds and curtains. We both looked toward the window. It was wide open.
“Where is she?”
“That’s what I’m about to ask you,” I growled. I grabbed my brother by the shirt and slammed him against the wall. “Where the fuck is she?”
“I— dammit, Graham! I don’t know. I didn’t think she would sneak out the window,” he said, his voice calm. “Why would she? It was my duty to make sure no one was coming into the place to get her, not to keep her here. These windows can only be opened from the inside and we’re two stories up.”
“So what? You’re saying she climbed down the fucking tree and left on her own?”
“I’m saying that’s the only way that could have happened. Mason is keeping an eye on the feed.”
My eyes fell on something on my desk. I dropped my brother and walked slowly over to the pile of papers. It was a note. I opened it and read it to myself.
Graham,
You weren’t honest with me. I can’t blame you completely. We hardly know each other. And that’s why I must leave. I wasn’t completely honest with you either, and I don’t know who I can trust right now except for myself.
I’m sorry, but I won’t be fooled again. I just can’t risk it.
Goodbye.
Emmy
Fooled? What the hell? I had no earthly idea what she was talking about. But then I saw it. The letter was placed on copies of checks I’d written to my half-brother, Jack.
“She couldn’t have gotten far. The gate isn’t up, and Mason is watching the video feed,” Sam reiterated. “And she doesn’t have a car.”
“Talk to Mason. See if he can find her on the cameras,” I said. I headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Sam asked.
“I’m going to find her.”
“And what if she doesn’t want to come back? You can’t force her to stay.”
No, I couldn’t force her, but I wasn’t going to let her leave.
Emilia
We have people everywhere, Emilia. Even in Liberty, the last message I got from Antonio read.
My heart stopped. I’d received the message right before making my escape. It had crossed my mind that maybe I should stay, but part of me wondered…what if Graham and his brothers were connected to Antonio?
No, Emilia, that’s crazy. It’s absurd. Even if they are involved in illegal activities - which you don’t know for sure - to think they could work with someone like Antonio… no. No way. I kept telling myself that, but I knew I could only trust myself.
If Graham was acting, he was damn good at it. He’d also made a convincing stripper, I reminded myself.
I felt like I was losing my mind. I couldn’t figure out what to do.
But the truth was, I didn’t know Graham and his brothers well enough to trust them with my life and the life of my child. I just didn’t. The copies of the checks to Jack was enough proof of that.
I’d dug through Graham’s closet for something I could wear. There wasn’t much - most of his pants were out of the question for sure. I had hips and thighs, but he was massive, and they’d fall right off of me, even with a belt. There was nothing in there. I went to the dresser.
The first one was filled with boxers and socks. I grabbed a pair of socks and closed it. Then I moved to the next one and hit the jackpot.
I grabbed a pair of grey sweatpants with a tie around the waist. I slipped them on, tightening the string until it couldn’t tighten anymore. They were still fairly loose, but they’d have to do. I picked up the sweatshirt he’d loaned me and replaced the shirt I was wearing - the dirty one I had worn the day before - and wore Graham’s sweatshirt instead. It went down to my knees and made me feel so safe and warm - just like his arms had.
I’d swallowed the lump in my throat and gathered my dirty clothes. I’d opened the bedroom door, and as he promised, Sam was right outside.
“Hey there,” Sam said, standing.
“Hey, sorry to bother you, but you offered to wash my clothes for me?”
“Of course,” he said. “I’m happy to.”
“Thank you,” I said, handing the clothes to him. “I appreciate it, Sam. I’m going to get some rest, so I may be asleep when you get back.”
“I’ll be right downstairs, and only for a second. Mason has an eye on the cameras, watching the front door and this hallway, so if you need anything, just wave or call out.”
“I think I’ll be fine, but thank you,” I said with a small smile.
I watched as Sam walked down the hallway, and then I went back into the room. I only had a few moments, and it was clear I wouldn’t be able to get out the front door. Mason was most likely looking for people coming in, however, not people exiting.