*****
“Holy shit,” Elliot whispered twenty minutes later. His eyes were locked on the details of the article and then he dropped it on top of the rest. “You think she’s one of these girls?”
I nodded, flicking the pages with my thumb. “I don’t know which one, but what the articles don’t say is that the murderer was a crooked cop.”
“How do you know?”
“She told me.” I swallowed. “That weekend I went to San Fran to hang out with Uncle Al. I found out that she’d been assuming all these different identities. I called her on it and she spilled the truth.”
“Are you sure? It wasn’t just an act?”
I shook my head, adamant. “It was the truth, man. I know she told me the truth that day…and I promised her I wouldn’t say anything.” I wrapped my knuckles on the table. “But me being Mr. Fixit couldn’t keep my mouth shut and I asked my uncle if he could look into it for me.”
“Dude, this is heavy stuff.” Elliot pointed at it.
“I know.”
“So she ran because you blabbed?”
I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. “You know what, I actually think she ran to keep us safe.”
Elliot looked skeptical.
“I know you didn’t trust her. I know she lied to us, but she was scared. She still thinks that cop is out to get her and she took off because she didn’t want us in the cross fire.”
Pursing his lips, Elliot picked up Lucy Tate’s notes. “Are you sure she’s not just a killer who wanted to flee before she got caught?” He swung the pages between his thumb and forefinger.
I snatched it out of his hand and dumped it on the table. “She’s not Lucy. I refuse to believe she killed her own parents.”
“Maybe they were bad people. Maybe they deserved it.”
“She’s not a killer, Elliot!” I whacked the table.
“Okay, okay.” He raised his hands in surrender and then gave me that sympathetic look. The one he saved up for when he knew I was really hurting. “Whatever or whoever she is, it doesn’t change the fact she’s gone. You have to get over it, man.”
I jerked out of my seat and paced into the kitchen. “How the hell am I supposed to do that when I know she’s out there facing who knows what?”
“Hey, if she made it here on her own, she’ll be okay. She was a strong, independent chick.”
“Yeah, I know.” I closed my eyes, leaning against the counter and dipping my head. I wanted her to need me. Was that stupid? I just hated the idea of her fending for herself. It was killing me.
I listened to Elliot rise from his seat and quietly approach me. “I know this sucks, dude. I know you want her back, but you can’t let Dani rob you of your year. You still have SATs to pass. You can’t flunk out now.” He slapped his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “You need to focus on graduating. Maybe once the summer rolls around, you and I can go on a Dani-hunt or something. But for now…you have to let her go.”
Elliot was right. I didn’t want him to be, but that didn’t change the facts.
I gave him a stiff nod.
“I’m here if you need anything. You know that, right?”
“Yeah.” I flicked his hand off my shoulder and playfully shoved him away from me.
He grinned back and took a swipe at my head.
“You tell anyone about this conversation, you’re a dead man.” I pointed at him.
“Absolutely! I don’t want people finding out about my soft side. My whole rep will go up in flames. You better not blab, Schultz or your ass is grass.” He pointed at me.
My chuckle was stolen by a touch of sincerity. “Thanks, man. Thanks for being there for me.”
“I always will. Even if you did stand me up for a girl.”
“Never again.” I shook my head, my resolve strengthening. Elliot was right. I needed to get over myself…and Dani. Wallowing was not helping me. I had to let it go.
I knew it wasn’t that simple. It would take time, but with friends like mine, I had a much better chance of making it.
Chapter 35
ZACH
June 2014
Graduation had come and gone. I’d passed with flying colors as everyone expected me to. The final few weeks of the year had flown by in a blur. Life had been too busy to mope and the files that had lived on the floor beneath my bed, the files I had pulled out on a nightly basis, were now stashed away on a top shelf of my closet. I knew myself well enough to know I’d pull them out again sometime, but for now they had been laid to rest.
Uncle Alex hadn’t contacted me again. I assumed his deadlines were still looming and he hadn’t gotten back to the files. It was actually a relief.
I still thought about Dani every day. The way her blue eyes would study me, the way her soft lips would curve at the corners and how deliciously warm her tongue felt against mine. I didn’t think I’d ever get over her completely. I’d never stop thinking about our time together, about how I could have fallen in love with her…or how I probably had, but never thought to admit it.
I missed her.