"And I was locked in a pent—housefor ten years."
"Fair enough." Erin grabbed her coat, and I opened the door for her. "Your parents are happy you're home," I said as we walked toward the street.
"They're happy I'm alive."
"I'm sure everyone is."
She hesitated a moment. "I haven't called Steven."
"Who? Oh, the guy you were dating then?"
"Yeah. I looked him up on social media, and he's married with two kids now."
"Are you okay about that?"
Erin shrugged. "A lot happened in those ten years, you know?"
"Oh, I know," I snorted.
"I just mean that it's understandable he moved on. I would have if I’d thought he was dead."
"Yeah." My lips formed a thin line. "But I'm happy things turned out the way they did for us."
"Me too."
I grabbed her hand and laced our chilly fingers together. "Mind telling me what happened after I left yesterday?"
Erin took a deep breath and then told me everything from running to the neighbor's house, the cops gathering evidence, and then going to the police station for more interviews. "There's an APB out for Madam and Frank."
"I figured there would be if the cops aren’t on Frank's payroll."
"What if they find the bodies?"
"That would be good for you then. Case closed."
"But you?" she questioned.
I stopped walking and faced her. "I did nothing wrong. I wasn't the one who shot either of them."
"But you disposed of their bodies, right?"
I shook my head. "Frank's men did that. I just told them what to do. The only thing I did was take Frank's body down to the van. I didn't even get out of the van at the docks."
"You'll be an accomplice."
"Why do you think they'll find their bodies?"
Erin shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just scared. I want all of this to be behind us."
"Then let it."
"How?"
I cupped her cheek with my free hand. "Come with me to California."
She drew her head back. "California?"
"I have a job—a legit job—waiting for me in L.A. My mom and I want a fresh start too, and we want you to come with us."
