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“I think I remember the way to your house. Can you be my backup navigator?”
She nods. I didn’t answer her question on why she’s scared of me, but she shouldknowwhy. She was scared of me then, too.
“You said Thomas and Natalie were the ones to take you in.” I glance at her. “Who are they to you?”
I already know, but I want to hear it from her.
“Thomas is my cousin on my dad’s side. Um, he was the only one they could find who would take me.” She rubs her throat, almost unconsciously. “But we weren’t close. Before.”
“Because he doesn’t know much…”
“I went to school in New York City, he said. He remembered hearing about my graduation from family. We walked through my old campus, but I didn’t remember anything. We couldn’t get into my old apartment.” She looks saddened by that.
“Has he spoken about other family?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“Why not?”
“He said that he’s not on speaking terms with my parents. Wouldn’t know how to contact them, or something... He doesn’t really want to, either.”
Now I need to know. It should be easy enough to trace Thomas’s family back and locate Melody’s dad. And through him, the rest of Melody’s history should reveal itself.
We ride the rest of the way in contemplative quiet. When we get to her cousin’s house, I twist to face her.
“Are they at work?” I ask.
“Thomas will get back by three. Natalie won’t be back ’til five or six.”
It’s only ten in the morning now. Seems like a whole day has been crammed into the space of a few hours.
“Thanks for the ride,” she says, hopping down from my truck. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then…”
“That you will.”
I watch from the truck, idling on the curb, until she disappears into the house. Then I pick up the water bottle she drank from and put it back in the bag. The drugs that I carefully put into the water should go into effect within the hour.
But in case she’s watching from one of the windows, I pull away from her street. Biding my time has never bothered me. In fact, it adds to the thrill of it.
An hour later, I sneak back into her house.
Melody is passed out on the couch. Her breathing is deep and even, her lips parted. Her glasses are askew, hair across her face. I gently brush it away and pull her glasses off, folding them and setting them on the side table.
I want her afraid of her cousin.
I want her running to me and only me.
And that will only happen if she thinks he’s the worst sort of human.
But for her, I’ll happily stoop to those levels.
I close the curtains, blocking the windows that give passersby on the street a look into the living room, then return to Melody. My adrenaline is flowing worse than right before a game. My fingers shake slightly as I pull her up into a sitting position and remove her top. Her body leans against mine, and I reach around her to unclasp her bra.
I set her back and then get to work on her lower half. Shoes, pants, panties.
In a matter of moments, she’s naked on the couch in front of me.
And she is a sight to behold.
