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I laugh and say my goodbyes before hopping out of the car. I head into my room and lock the door behind me. It looks like both my girls are getting some action tonight. Good for them. I’m happy they’re happy.
Still, it makes me feel a little lonely. I’m uninterested in a relationship. It’s too soon, and the last one ended with too much of a bang for my liking.
I shiver at the thought, lightly touching my neck. I hope I never have to experience that level of terror again. That was enough for one lifetime.
Shaking off the unwanted thoughts, I get ready for bed. It’s been a long day. A movie in my pj’s, and a sandwich with chips for dinner sounds perfect right about now. I don’t waste any time and dive in the bed to find something to watch.
Right before I fall asleep, I jolt upright. I didn’t check for an email from Addy today! How could I have almost forgotten? I jump up and lift the mattress to retrieve the Chromebook. I quickly log in and scan the emails that came in today.
Ah, there’s one from Addy.
A,
We have a problem. Christopher got impatient waiting for Andrew to help him, and he reported you missing! The news outlets have your picture posted on the websites, and they ran a story on it last night!
I’m freaking out. The police came this morning to interview all of us. Mom and dad are distraught. They’d bought Christopher’s lies about you going out of town for a few days, but then all hell broke loose when he told them he was attacked by an unnamed assailant and that he sent you off for protection. Dad almost burst a blood vessel right then and there.
Andrew refused to answer any questions, which makes him look suspicious as hell, but I think he was so confused and pissed at Christopher that he clammed up.
I, of course, acted like I haven’t spoken to you and didn’t know anything more than what Christopher had told us.
But here’s the crazy part. Christopher lied to the police about what happened. He’s intentionally putting them on the wrong trail. He said he was attacked in his own home while you were out. He panicked when you came home to find him unconscious and told you to leave town immediately because it wouldn’t be safe until they found who did this to him. But then he began to worry after so many days of being unable to get in touch with you.
He doesn’t want them to find you though. I don’t know if it’s because he couldn’t keep explaining where you were or if getting them involved allows him to use back channels to get that subpoena. Hell, maybe it’s both.
Andrew is losing it. Like he’s in full-on panic mode. I think he’s truly worried about you and what Christopher will do or maybe already did to you since Christopher won’t give him any answers. I still haven’t told him that we’re talking. I don’t trust him yet, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep quiet.
Everyone is losing their minds, and I don’t know what to do! Please tell me what to do.
Write back as soon as you can.
Love Always,
Addy
I slam the laptop shut and toss it beside me.Shit. If they’re running stories saying I’m missing, everyone will soon know who I am. Word like that would spread, especially with social media these days.
I quickly grab the remote and find the local news. After a few minutes of watching, I’m relieved to find there’s no mention of my name. I click through the channels to find a bigger network, and again, no mention of me.
I sag back against the pillow as my heart hammers away in my chest. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but at least nothing has reached Fraser yet. I can’t tell Charlie and Jack because they won’t understand. They’ll likely feel betrayed and rightfully so.
Tears burn the back of my eyes. Just when things feel like they’re falling into place, Christopher goes and ruins it. Well, fuck that! He won’t take away my power or ruin the life I’ve built in Fraser. Furious, I throw the blanket back and grab the laptop before heading to the small table by the window.
I open it back up, pull up a search engine, and type in my real name: Andrea Shaw. Within seconds, link after link to various articles appear. Headlines that read,‘Senator’s fiancé missing! Believed to be in grave danger!’ ‘Senator Christopher Gates seen today, appearing distraught over missing fiancé,’ ‘Andrea Shaw, 26, fiancé of Senator Christopher Gates, missing from their Sacramento home!’
The last headline reads like I was kidnapped. I scan back over the email from Adalyn. She said he told the police he made me leave for my safety. Why would they print that headline then? Leave it to the media to spin a spun story!
I tap out my reply to Addy.
Adalyn,
I can’t believe what he’s trying to pull. Actually, I guess I can. He’s never going to just let me go. He won’t give up that easily. I checked the local stations here, and there’s no mention of me so far. I also turned on the bigger well-known networks, and there’s nothing there either, thankfully! There isn’t much either of us can do. Just keep me updated on where you see my story aired. I’ve moved again, and I’m still safe. Maybe more so now.
Continue playing it cool, Addy. You don’t know a thing. Act more concerned than even they are. They won’t suspect you know anything if you do. And keep digging into Christopher…and Andrew. We still don’t know if we can trust Andrew, and we need something concrete on Christopher. Neither of us are truly safe until he’s been arrested.
I love you, Adalyn.
All My Love,
