“What?”
“You promised me you wouldn’t say a word to anyone! You promised, Zach. How could you be so selfish?”
“Selfish!” I pointed back to where my friends had all stalked away from me. “I’m losing my friends over you. I’m not breaking trust or gossiping about you around school. I’m just trying to help. My uncle is an amazing investigator and he’ll find out who did this to your parents. He can expose him and then this can be over for you!”
“I didn’t ask for you to do that for me! I’ve never requested justice.”
“Well you should have!”
“You don’t get it, Zach!” Her voice was quivering. She looked like a cornered animal, her eyes flittering around me, seeking an escape. “I want to live! That’s pretty much my only goal in life and you messing around with this is just screwing it up. You can’t stand the idea that justice hasn’t been served. You want to bring him down, but you have no clue what you are up against! He’s too powerful for you, Zach. I told you to drop it, because I care about you. I value your life.” Her voice broke and she pulled in a ragged breath.
Okay, was she saying that me digging into this would get me killed?
That’s ridiculous. I gripped the back of my neck, needing this argument to be over. We weren’t getting anywhere and the idea of watching her shake like that for another nanosecond killed me.
“I care about you too, Dani. A lot.” My eyes rested on her, making sure she understood that I meant every word I was saying. “You deserve to get back the life he stole from you. You have to stand up and bring this guy down. You can’t live like this for the rest of your life. I want to help set you free. Uncle Alex is the best ally we have.”
“You don’t know shit, Zach.” She shook her head, agony cresting over her expression. “Bring this guy down? I can’t do that! You don’t know what you’ve started.”
“I just want you to be safe…and you won’t be until you stop running and end this.” I reached for her hand, but she stepped away from me.
Her sad eyes tore at my soul. “You need to leave me alone and you need to tell your uncle to drop this.” Her voice was a soft whisper.
“Dani, please don’t go.” I took a step towards her.
“DO NOT follow me.” She raised her hand, forcing me to stand my ground. Her eyes were filled with such agonizing pain. I didn’t understand it. Couldn’t she see I was trying to help her?
“Dani, please,” I whispered, but she turned and ran.
I watched her race over the grass, my heart beating a dull rhythm inside my chest. I had no idea where she was going and I knew trying to follow her would only push her further away.
Tipping my head up to the sky, I let out a soft string of curses before flinging my bag over my shoulder and stomping my way to what would no doubt be a detention.
I couldn’t figure out why Dani was so freaked. She’d survived five years without that cop catching her. He probably didn’t even remember who she was anymore. She was being paranoid. Uncle Alex wasn’t going to be flashing his name across the sky. My uncle was all subtlety until it came to the day of print and then he nailed these crooked bastards to the wall.
After a verbal thrashing from my Economics teacher I slumped into my seat, avoiding Elliot’s heated glare. All I wanted to do was go and find Dani, make things right. I knew she needed time and I’d give her that, but then we had to talk. I conceded that I’d have to start with an apology. I did break my promise, but it was for a good cause and I had to convince her of that.
My life was not in danger. I tried to tell myself that asking a few questions had never gotten anybody killed, but I knew I’d be a fool to believe it.
Chapter 30
LUCY
December 2013
Lucy had been holed up in the apartment for three days solid. She was getting a major case of the jitters, worrying about Marlin. Shorty was keeping pretty quiet, assuring her that his contacts were finding out what they could.
He was pretty silent and serious whenever he was around and it was getting to be too much.
“I’m going for a run.” She came out of her room in sweat pants, a light hoody and her running shoes. She had her ipod strapped to her arm and earplugs already nestled in place. She hadn’t turned the music on yet.
Shoving her cap down low, she looked at Shorty for approval.
“Don’t be too long and keep that hat on your head.”
“I’ll avoid everyone, I promise.”