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I could see the tail lights of Guy's Aston Martin in my rearview mirror. The stoplight had just turned green, and he was accelerating down the parkway. Instead of following, I jumped out and ran up the back stairs to my apartment, not wanting to wait for the elevator. Inside, I dug through my desk drawer, located my passport, and grabbed some cash and an extra battery pack for my phone. Then, rushing back down the stairs, I jumped back into my car and headed in the opposite direction on the parkway. There was no way I was following Guy to his house, or anywhere else for that matter.
I had to put some distance between us and devise a new plan!
Pulling into a Gas Express, I filled my tank while Googling the distance between San Diego and Phoenix. Then, smiling, I hung the nozzle up and noted it was approximately 350 miles — at least a five or six-hour drive to the city. I glanced at my watch. That would get me there a little after midnight. I nodded and grinned at myself in the mirror, happy with the decision.
"You don't know a soul there and have no reason to be in Phoenix," I told myself. "The perfect place to disappear for a few days. Until I get clarity on this… and a few more chapters under my belt." With that, I put my car in gear. Pulling out on Highway 94, I headed east and shot Guy a text.
Thanks for the beautiful weekend. I decided to go it alone for a few days. I appreciate you trying to help. Please don't worry. I'm fine <3.
I noticed the little dots dancing like Guy was texting me back. Then suddenly, my screen went blank. "Oh shit! I'm heading into the desert — no cell service!"
Chapter Thirteen
Guy
"What? Shit!" I yelled, holding my phone in my hand. Feeling the pressure of the gun against my waist, I pulled the pistol from my waistband and secured it in my glove box. Then swerving, I barely missed a stop sign and shot a text off to Ariel.
Don't do this! If you don't want to stay with me, that's ok. But let me help you!
I clenched my jaw when I noticed my text didn't go through. And the tires squealed as I made a U-Turn and headed back toward her place, hoping she was still there or something… anything that would reassure me Ariel was safe.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my hand.
It was Chase. I ignored him and let it go to voicemail. But as soon as he left a message, he called back again. And again, I ignored it, and a few other missed calls too.
Forcing myself to focus on the road, I took a few deep breaths before finally arriving at her building. Ariel's car was nowhere to be found. But, just to make sure, I parked and went inside. After beating on the door repeatedly with no results, Ariel's elderly neighbor stepped into the hallway." What's wrong with you, young man? Can't you see she isn't here?" The lady searched my face and softened her tone. "Are you alright? Weren't you the fellow just here an hour or so ago?"
I nodded, "Yes, yes, I am. I'm sorry to bother you. Please excuse me."
When I turned to walk away, she touched my elbow and snickered. "Did those beautiful roses work? Is she still upset with you?" She eyed me up and down as if sizing me up before a date.
I stepped closer. "Well, I wasn't sure she got them. The florist said they got delivered and gave me a confirmation number, but she never thanked me for them... So..." I lied, fishing.
"Oh, yes. The mailman delivered them. They weren't in a regular box that flowers usually come in... or a vase. It was a shipping box or something. I watched her sign for them." She looked up at me with a sheepish grin. "Ariel forgot to shut her door, so I saw her unwrap the package and the big smile on her face when she found the card inside. She never realized her door was still open, so I shut it for her and when back inside.""
"She signed for them?"
"Yes. I watched him walk back to his vehicle and was surprised the person was driving a car instead of a truck with the post office logo on the side."
"Can you describe him for me? I'm just curious if my friend delivered them. I paid him extra to get them there on Wednesday morning," I said, fishing for more information and hoping the woman wouldn't shoo me away.
"He was smaller than you. He was shorter, too, and he had longish light hair. Unkept. Now that I think of it, I've never seen a male postal worker with hair that long."
I smiled and extended my palm. "Thank you, ma'am. You've been very helpful."
"Well, I hope you two get things ironed out. You seem like a nice fellow... and I could tell Ariel was so pleased when she got those roses. And, oh, one more thing. They were delivered on Tuesday, not Wednesday, son! I'm sure of it. They came right before I was about to leave for my doctor's appointment."
I snapped my fingers. "That's right, it was Tuesday. I'm not getting any younger, you know," I mumbled as my brain tumbled with the new information.
"No, sonny, you have a long way to go." She cackled, stepping through her doorway.
Back inside my car, I picked up my phone, hoping my text to Ariel had gone through. It hadn't. I tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. So I left a message, begging her to call me back. I banged my fists on the steering wheel in frustration before driving back to my place. But before I got home, I decided to drive over to Meagan's to see if she was still home.
After I parked my car, I saw hers was in its assigned spot and decided to walk inside and pay her a visit. After a few times ringing her doorbell with no answer, I turned to leave. But as I walked away, I saw the door had been left slightly ajar. So I stepped inside.
"Meagan?" I called out, but there was no answer. That's when I noticed an odd smell. And as I walked farther inside, the smell of fecal material assaulted my senses. "Meagan? Hey sis!" I called out again, this time more urgently, as a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach.
I walked around her small apartment, checking each room until I found the source of the odor. Her bathroom wall was covered in shit and someone had written:
