Page 23 of Anarchy Missing

CHAPTER NINE - CASE

I tab accept on my ringing phone and say, “Yeah.”

“Are you watching the news?” It’s Thomas.

I’m not. I’m sitting in my house, holding the knife in my hand, wondering if it’s a sign things are getting worse because I want to cut myself right now, and I’m hours early.

So far, the naked trips to the roof have only happened in the middle of the night. But all day long I’ve had a building urge to cut. Deep, deep cuts. Let the heat out. I’m fucking burning up. Maybe I do need vents in my hands like Lincoln has? Maybe that would fix all my problems?

“No,” I tell Thomas. “I’m eating dinner.”

“Well, turn it on. Channel Nine. Quick.”

I reach over for the remote on the end table and flick it on. I press nine on the keypad, and then a reporter’s face is on screen. “We’ve heard rumors of a note, Miss Lightly. Can you confirm that whomever stole seventy-five million dollars from the Cathedral City banks yesterday morning left a note?”

Her face is suddenly on my wall. A face I have not seen since that last time we danced at the ball.

“I’m afraid I haven’t seen the note, Ms. Bast.”

“But there is one?”

“I’m sorry,” Lulu says. “I can’t confirm or deny that. I just have no information about it.”

“What can you tell us?”

“Do you see her?” Thomas asks, still on the other side of the phone.

“I see her,” I whisper. “Did you know she was back?”

“No,” Thomas deadpans. “And I’m kinda pissed off about that. I had an arrangement with her father. And before you get all pissed off, I did it for your own good. And hers. It’s dangerous for her to be here, Case. You have to know this.”

“I do,” I say, still softly.

“She needs to go.”

I sigh. “So get rid of her.” I can’t stop Thomas. Whatever he’s gonna do, he’s gonna do. That’s just how he is.

“We can’t. She’s a fucking assistant district attorney and apparently, she’s on this new bank robbery case.”

“So what should we do about it?”

“I think you should meet up with her. Bump in to her somewhere. Casually, you know. Nothing formal. Feel out the situation. See where she’s heading. They’re trying to pin this on us, Case. I hope you know that. And this is clearly a ploy to drag you into something.”

“Yup,” I say. He’s probably right.

“Don’t fall for it,” Thomas cautions.

“I’m not an idiot,” I snap. “Besides, I’m totally over her.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“I am. I’m happy to get rid of her. I know you’re the reason she left town, but you never told her to just cut contact with me, did you?”

“Nope. Never did.”

“And she couldn’t pick up the phone?”

“Right, brother. That’s the right attitude. We’re very close, man. So fucking close to putting all this shit in motion. Don’t let a girl take that win away from you.”