“Yeah, it’s not something we are willing to push, though. It’s not been until now that she’s had any issues. I know she’s just ignoring it, but we don’t know how to bring it up,” Lance says.
“She knows we are worried about her,” Mason says. “She’s just not ready to process it.”
“Why do you think that is?” Stacy asks.
“Because Leo is still out there,” he says simply. “As long as she thinks that he could come back, she won’t move past his betrayal.”
I glance up slightly, and Mason is looking at me. He says nothing as he readjusts me so no one else can see that I’m awake, then gently strokes my hair.
“We’ve been looking for him for months,” Lance says. “He will pop up somewhere random, then disappear again.”
“Where was he last?” Del asks.
“His newest credit card was used at a gas station five miles away, a week ago,” Dean grumbles. “I checked the surveillance, and it’s him. He has a beard now.”
“Does she know?” Jake asks. “That he’s close by?”
“Yeah,” Mason says, looking at me. “Yeah, she knows. When she gets stressed, she stops eating.”
“I could have been helping find him,” I whisper.
“What do you mean?” Mason asks me.
“I ignored everything and pretended it never happened,” I say. “I forced myself to be okay, and now he’s back.”
“You don’t know that he’s going to come after you, though,” Stacy says.
“I opened the letter yesterday morning,” I sigh. “Before everyone woke up.”
I get up and walk to the office to get the letter from my desk before coming back and handing it to Mason. He shakes his head immediately, but then clears his throat to read it aloud.
Sadie,
It’s been nearly a year since I had you. Have you been thinking of me? Thoughts of you consume my mind no matter where I go. I have tried to get you out of my head, but the sounds of your moans as we made you come play on a loop. I have tried everything from booze to pussyto gambling. I can’t get rid of the anger I have for you murdering my cousin. For being so smart, you really are a fucking idiot, Sadie. You’d figure that after being tricked by a hidden camera once, you wouldn’t make that mistake twice. What do you think would happen if I leaked the video of you kicking the chair out from under my cousin? Who would people sympathize with when they see the video of him slowly dying while all of your accomplices watch?
I always get what I want, and what I want is you. Come to me when I call, and they won’t be punished for your sins. I will rid you of your demons once and for all. Together, we can finish what Paul started.
Your friend,
Leo
“Fuck,” Todd sighs.
“Think he really does have a video?” Stacy asks me as I sit up.
“Look, guys…” I say. “I am going up to the police station tomorrow…”
“The fuck you are,” Todd snaps at me. “Have you lost your fucking mind? That is a first-degree murder charge, Sadie.”
“You don’t think I know that?” I ask calmly. “You don’t think I have imagined over and over again what it’s going to be like to die in prison?”
“We don’t even know if he actually has a video, babe,” Mason says calmly.
I sigh and grab my laptop off the coffee table and open it up to my email. Last night, before I met Stacy, he sent it to me. I click play and set my laptop down so everyone can see it, then I get up.
“I’m going to the police station,” I say simply before turning and walking to the kitchen.
I put my elbows on the counter and drop my head to focus on my breathing. I should have known better. I should have checked the fucking cabin first. This is how people get caught killing people. They make stupid ass mistakes and assume they are safe. I assumed that I was safe because Paul was dead, and Leo was missing.
