AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I see that,” the man says.
“I kept my end of the bargain.”
“You did.”
“I’m supposed to get something in return.”
I can feel him hesitating, thinking about the whole thing. If he starts getting some kind of conscience now this whole thing will be in vain. “Well?” I urge him and he finally opens the folder and places the envelope I just gave him inside. He also fishes out a piece of paper on which he has scribbled something for me.
“Here,” he says and I take the paper from him.
It’s the name of a hospital and a room number.
I fold the piece of paper and place it safely inside my suit jacket.
“The news will come out some time tomorrow,” he says.
“Why’re you telling me this?”
“Thought I’d give you a heads-up.”
“Listen to me, HT. We are not friends. This is a business transaction. And I think our business is done. Continuing this conversation will not be necessary.”
I can feel him snickering. “Right. Mr. Delaney. The big shot. The hot guy every girl in Springvale is lusting after and the rich guy every guy in Springvale hates.”
“Well, I guess you can’t please everyone, can you?”
“Not if you’re Liam Delaney.”
He says this and opens the door, steps out and vanishes into the night.
“Where’re we going next, sir?” Steven asks.
I take out the piece of paper with the name and address. “Saint Mary’s Hospital. You know where that is?”
“Of course, sir. But visiting hours must be over now.”
“That’s okay, Steven. The visit’s going
to be short and I’m not planning on announcing myself.”
The Darkness Around Me
HOLDEN
The liquor in the flask finishes and with it ends every reason I’ve been giving myself not to come here. It’s strange but maybe it’s true what they say, that blood runs thicker than water. Maybe that’s why I’m here this late, convincing myself to go back home, to Mom, to everything I know and yet, I’m still standing here, stuck and unable to do what I know I’m supposed to do. Mom will hate the fact that I came to see him again, and that’s why I brought along a chauffeur who I hired and I knew I could trust. Dad…Zaff told me to do that over the phone, just as a precaution so I did. Couldn’t hurt and at least now there’s no relying on Max and worrying about him ratting me out to my mother. Mom was pissed to say the least that I took this step, but for some reason she didn’t fight over it much. She’s been picking her battles ever since she found out about my meeting with Heliot.
She probably thinks that if she won’t talk about it and if we try to ignore it, the problem will just go away.
“Wait here,” I say to the driver and step outside.
If she won’t give me answers, then I’m going to go to someone who can.
The Visit
LIAM
The man on the bed could have been anyone. I’m not even sure I’m in the right room but it has to be, this is the room #HT said the guy would be in. I never saw Steven take the pictures but his physique was the same and he had the same kind of injuries as he had in the photographs. When I go up to him, he opens his one good eye and stares at me. Either he’s completely out of it or he’s trying to remember if he has seen me somewhere.
