AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Once we’re both inside, I turn, and I can’t hide my audible gasp. I’m in shock. Everything is black, and the smell is terrible. Jack rubs his hand up and down my back, no doubt trying to comfort me the best way he knows how.
“Jack,” I start, “this is so much worse than I thought.”
His hand remains on my back. “I don’t think there’ll be anything you’ll want from in here. Even if it’s not burned, the smell will likely never come out.”
Nodding, I say, “I think you’re right. There can’t possibly be anything salvageable here.”
Now that I’ve finally seen the damage, I understand what he meant earlier. He knew I needed to see for myself though, so he made a way.
Jack climbs back down first to hold the ladder for me. When it’s my turn to climb back out the window and onto the ladder, my legs are a little shaky. Going down isnotthe same as going up.
“Steady,” he says. Even without being able to see him, I can hear the smile in his voice.
I pause for a moment to steady myself before I start stepping down each rung.
When I reach the bottom, I turn and face Jack. “I’m so sorry about the apartment. I know it’s not my fault directly, but it certainly wouldn’t have happened if I weren’t here.” I finish the last part quickly before he can protest.
Picking the coffee mugs up, Jack hands mine to me. “You don’t know that. I might have a crazy ex that would have burned that down eventually. You never know,” he says with a laugh.
Caught off guard, I laugh, too. “I’m glad you aren’t upset about it, I guess.”
“I can rebuild that in no time,” he says nonchalantly.
“Really?” I’m unable to hide the surprise in my voice.
Jack acts as if I’ve offended him. “Hey, I may not cook well, but I can solve cases and build shit. And that’s alright by me.”
“It’s alright by me, too,” I say, smiling widely at him.
As I open the door for us to walk back inside, my phone rings. I hurry over to the coffee table where I left it, grabbing it and flipping it open without checking to see who it is first. Jack is by my side after locking the front door.
I push the speaker button quickly so we can both hear. “Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me and Andrew,” Addy responds.
“Hey, it’s me and Jack on this end,” I reply. We sit down on the sofa together; this seems to be our new normal.
Andrew starts. “I think we have everything mapped out. As well as we can, at least. The goal will be to get him to confess. Will the café owner, I forget her name, sorry—”
“Irene,” Addy chimes in.
“That’s right, Irene. Will Irene allow you to put a camera up inside the café?” Andrew asks.
“She will,” Jack says. “She’s willing to do whatever it takes to nail his ass and end this for Andrea. We all are.” He looks at me, and my heart swells.
“Okay, good. He’s so cocky and full of himself, just seeing Andrea will make him start talking,” Andrew says, sure of himself.
He isn’t exactly wrong. The night Christopher choked me, he said a lot more than I would have expected, but I know that’s only because he thought I’d be far toodeadto tell anyone.
Jack’s face hardens at the mention of Christopher seeing me. I lay my hand on his lap, hoping to calm him. The conversation just started, so I don’t want him to blow a gasket just yet.
“Andrew has already told Christopher he isn’t going to help him anymore. But he’s also expressed the desire to bring you home safely. Christopher will be suspicious at this point if Andrew tells him outright. So, Andrew will tell me at a time and place where Christopher will overhear that he’s going to Colorado to see you. He’ll say he’s going to convince you to come back to Sacramento and file charges against Christopher,” Adalyn explains.
“When will this happen?” Jack asks, flatly.
“Christopher will be at our parents’ for dinner on Thursday evening. We’ll ensure he hears the conversation then,” Adalyn answers.
Oh, how I don’t miss those dinners. I almost ask how our parents are, but I’m not quite sure I want to know.
