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35
Jessica
July, Present Day
Maple Ridge
* * *
I poke my head into Troy’s office. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Guilt burns at the back of my throat at how I’m lying to him about not being free tonight. Just like I lied last night when I texted I had a headache.
I can’t risk Troy going to my house and discovering Violet and Sophie hiding there. I want to trust him. I really do. But I can’t. Not after he got himself arrested because he pissed off the chief of police, Violet’s husband.
“I can give you and Bailey a ride home.” Troy opens his desk drawer where he keeps his truck keys.
“That’s okay. I have to go to the store first. And I’m looking forward to the bike ride home. I’ll see you tomorrow.” My tone is coated with an extra dose of cheery.
“Okay.” He closes the drawer.
I turn to leave, Bailey by my side.
“Oh, Jess.”
I swivel around, praying he’s not planning to join me at the store. “Yes?”
Troy stands from his desk chair and walks over to me. My question is answered with a kiss that leaves my legs feeling like they no longer belong to me—in a good way. Our tongues dance my favorite tango. And for a fraction of a second, I forget why he can’t come over to my house. Why I can’t spend the night with him.
But then Violet’s bruised face and everything she’s been through, everything she’ll still need to survive against, reminds me why I can’t spend the night with him.
Until I figure out how to get her to safety, no one can come over to my place. And I don’t feel comfortable leaving Violet and Sophie alone for longer than necessary in case they need me. Violet is hurt and might need my help with Sophie.
And I need to start working on her escape route. I won’t have time for that if I stay overnight at Troy’s.
Somehow, I find the will to pull away from Troy. “See you tomorrow.” I maneuver my mouth into a smile and pray the truth of what I’m up to isn’t graffitied on my face.
“See you tomorrow.”
The sky is blue when I step outside the building, but storm clouds are gathering on the horizon.
“We need to get some groceries before we go home,” I tell Bailey and bike to the store with her in the trailer.
I pick up some extra food for Violet and head for the baby aisle, rewarding Bailey as we move through the store, treating it like a regular training session. Praying that her Service Dog in Training vest doesn’t draw unwanted attention.
I glance around, searching for anyone who might recognize me. The place is busy, but I don’t see anyone I know.
I grab a package of toddler-sized diapers and hurry to the cashier. I pay for everything and head for the exit. But as I walk out, Simone enters the store. Fuckers. The package of diapers is too big to hide behind my back.
Her gaze drops to the package in my arms and shoots up to my face, her eyes wide. “Are you…are you pregnant?”
I swear she says it loud enough for everyone in the store to hear, although that’s probably my imagination.
I laugh, but to my ears it sounds more desperate and forced than genuine. “I think it’s a little early for me to buy diapers if I’m pregnant. Which I’m not. And these are way too big for a baby, especially a newborn. They’re for toddlers. It’s definitely too early for me to buy those. If I were pregnant.” I’m babbling a train wreck of words, but I can’t seem to stop.
“So why are you buying diapers?”
“They’re for…a neighbor. Sh-she wanted them in case her granddaughter visits this weekend.” I inwardly cringe. Shut your mouth, Jess, before you make things worse. “I’ve got to get going. Bye.” I rush out of the store, not giving her a chance to ask me any more questions that will cause me to dig a deeper grave for myself, and I assist Bailey into the bike trailer.
I cover the diapers with her blanket and scan the area for signs of Chief Wilson or any other cop. Violet and Sophie have been missing for almost twenty hours.
