AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I was in the apartment shortly after that,” she said. “We both were. I didn’t see any body of a Japanese man.”
“No,” Drummond agreed.
“I saw blood in the hallway, but no body.”
Lund thought about that for a few moments, his expression blank.
“You thought I was dead as well,” Izzy observed. “Maybe Azaki isn’t dead either. Maybe it was an illusion.”
Lund frowned, the most expressive Cassie had seen him all evening.
“Tell me all about Mr. Azaki,” she said. “Was there ever a time when you were traveling with him when he was alone?”
“Why?” Lund asked, suspicious.
After the pizza and the talk about Azaki, Cassie realized that her relationship with Izzy had changed forever when she went to her own motel room to sleep, late in the night. Izzy said that she would stay in the room she had with Lund, but she walked with Cassie across the parking lot to the opposite side of the motel.
“You’re getting on okay with him,” Cassie observed, trying to make the comment light despite the pain she felt.
“He’s nice,” Izzy said. “I know it’s hard to tell because he’s so... I don’t know, quiet, right? But he was there when I needed him. And he doesn’t lie. He is what he is. I like being with him. I think he likes me too.”
“Of course he does,” Cassie said. “He’d be crazy not to.”
Izzy smiled at that. “We’re okay, right?” she asked, reaching for Cassie’s hand.
“Of course,” Cassie said, smiling. “We’ll always be okay, even when things change.”
“You’ve been away ten years, for you,” Izzy said, her expression serious.
“But not for you,” Cassie said. “It was just a few months ago for you.”
“I don’t know how you survived,” Izzy reflected quietly.
“I told you, I made a friend,” Cassie said. “I was okay. In a strange sort of way, I needed it.”
“You do seem different,” Izzy said, studying Cassie’s face closely in the darkness. “More sure of yourself, maybe.”
“I’m still me,” Cassie said, and knowing what Izzy was getting at, she added, “We’re still friends and we always will be. I know I don’t deserve it because of how I’ve ruined your life with this... this madness...”
“Oh shush...”
“But we will always be friends, if you want it.”
“I do,” Izzy simply said. She reached out for Cassie and hugged her. They stayed like that for a few moments and Cassie felt at peace. The tension she had been carrying with her for years released her from its grip, if only briefly. “Now, go get some sleep and we’ll meet for breakfast in the morning. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“You can even bring that miserable Scotsman if you want.”
They had left Drummond dozing in the chair in Izzy’s room.
“He’s not so bad,” Cassie said. “He’s been looking out for you guys these last few months.”
Izzy was surprised by that. “Really?”
“Yes,” Cassie said. “He was following you guys, making sure you were okay.”
“Huh,” Izzy said, turning her head to look back toward her room, as if she was reevaluating things. “Maybe I’ll go make him a coffee or something, then. Just to be nice.”
