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“I don’t know, but it looks like we’re about to find out,” Cam says, looking at his computer. “She’s texting someone now.”
Hayes just lost his shit on Laiken. Their relationship is history.
“Can you trace the number she’s texting?” I suggest.
Cam copies the number and puts it into the program the guy at the local spy shop told him about. “No. It’s a burner.”
Dammit.
“Oh, they’re responding,” Mali says, holding her breath.
We’re all going to be on edge until this is over. The four of us stand around the small screen, watching with bated breath as we wait.
They’ll never be truly over. Not until we’re done with them.
No, it’s legit. I watched it with my own eyes. He’s really done with her.
Then why are they both at the rink together right now? Don’t be stupid, Riley. They’re playing you. Now finish what you’re doing and get here. I need your help.
Fuck!We need a new plan.
We all rushback to the bar, desperate to get to Riley. From those texts, it’s obvious she’s not the ringleader in all of this. She’s someone’s puppet. All we need to know is who is pulling the strings, and the only one who can tell us is her. But if they know her cover is blown, it’s not like she’s just going to show up to work tomorrow.
Our only chance is now.
Running up to the bar, we’re hopeful we’ll be able to talk some sense into her. Laiken could even tell her that she found her mom. Hopefully that would connect with her somehow. But as we get up to the door, we realize it’s locked, and all the lights are off inside.
Son of a bitch.
I take my keys out and unlock it. As we walk inside, we quickly recognize that the place is completely empty. But when Cam flicks on the lights, we find that thefinish up what you’re doingwasn’t about working the bar. It was about what’s left in it for us.
Sitting in the center of the bar are four oversized balloons—each one with an envelope attached and our names written on them. I walk over to inspect them, and that’s when I see it. All of the balloons are being weighed down with fishing sinkers.
The same kind I put in Monty’s pockets to keep the body down.
“Cam,” I say, nodding town to the weights.
He looks down and his eyes widen. “How would they know that unless they found his body?”
“I have no idea.”
We all grab our respective envelopes, and it’s no surprise to me that mine and Laiken’s are placed on opposite ends. Tearing us apart seems to be the most important thing in all of this. But we’re stronger when we’re together, and the only ones who can decide to end us, are Laiken and me.
Carefully, we all open the envelopes, finding party invitations for each of us.
A 21stBirthday isn’t complete without a trip to Slaughter Island.
Isn’t that right, H?
Looking at the date, I notice it’s three days from now. There’s no reason they’d be bringing us back to the scene of the crime other than this is their endgame. And what better way than a makeshift birthday party for Laiken?
After all, they did say this has always been about her.
But what I don’t understand is if Laiken is what they want, why bury her alive? Why give me a chance to find her? They’re obsessed with her, but when it comes down to it, this is all just a sick game to them.
“They don’t actually expect us to go to this, do they?” Mali asks.
Laiken tosses her invitation onto the table. “I have a feeling if we don’t, they’ll force us there anyway.”
