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Thankfully, Lola is not one to let a quiet space go unfilled. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
I find my voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“Well, you have.”
I hear the pout in her tone.
“You didn’t even reply to my message about the professor going missing.”
I blink. It’s so strange hearing him brought up again. It’s like he’s a part of a whole different life. I guess he is, in a way. It’s strange how I’ve barely even thought about him over these past few days.
“Missing,” I manage to echo. “Yeah, sure, that’s odd.”
What’s really odd is that his missing person’s case hasn’t become a murder investigation.
“I’ve got an update, though,” she continues. “Police broke into his apartment.”
I brace myself and wait for her to tell me the dreadful news about how my professor has been found dead. Paxton Kassell, a handsome, hot as fuck professor, dying like that? Huge gossip. A tragedy, too, of course … if you don’t know he’s a rapey piece of shit. I do, so I won’t cry crocodile tears for him.
I freeze. “They did?”
“Yeah. He’d packed a bag and gone, apparently. Taken his passport, too. It’s so weird,” she says. “First you disappear, and then he disappears. He just vanished. Some people said you guys must have run off together because you went almost at the same time, but I was like, don’t be ridiculous. Although, I have to say, as time went on, I became less sure of anything because I can’t believe you never called.” She huffs out an annoyed breath. “So, come on, babe, where are you? I can’t believe it’s been this long. I’ve been worried sick. Seriously, I’ve been really concerned about you.”
My brain is stuck a couple of sentences back. “Wait a minute,” I say. “You mean the cops still think he’s missing?”
“Yep, Professor Mc-Loves-Himself just poofed into thin air.”
My mouth has run dry. “The police didn’t…find anything in his apartment?”
“Like what?” She sounds puzzled by my sudden line of questioning.
“I-I don’t know.”
I don’t know why I’d thought they’d find his body inside. This must be down to Nataniele. He would have had a cleanup team go into the apartment and get rid of the body. They probably packed a bag with his clothes, and maybe his passport, too, and made it look as though Paxton had decided to take a last-minute vacation.
I chew on the inside of my lip. This is good news, right? If the police don’t suspect murder, then I’m free and clear. But something about it doesn’t feel right.
If that was the case, why have I been needing to hide out at Verona Falls? Nataniele would have known the cops weren’t looking for me, or Mom either. Has he manipulated this so we believed we were in trouble with the police so we’d have to stay at Verona Falls, so Mom would marry him, and we’d get new names?
I can’t fully explain it to myself—call it a gut instinct—but it niggles at me.
Everywhere I turn, it’s as though I’m being manipulated.
“So,” Lola says insistently, “come on. Spill. Where are you? It was strange how you and your mom just up and went. Everybody has been talking about it, and we’ve all been worried.”
“We’re all right.” I’m speaking on autopilot now.
I realize Lola is rambling on, and I’ve paid no heed to what she’s saying. She could have told me the world is about to end. I have no idea how to respond to her. In the end, I make a noncommittal noise in the back of my throat.
“Can I come and see you, then?” she asks. “Come on, Mackenzie, spill the beans. Where are you?”
“I’m not allowed to say,” I answer truthfully. “Mom kind of got into some trouble. She— well, really, it was my dad— owes money. Listen, Lola, I can’t say too much because it’s not safe. It’s not safe for me, and it’s most certainly not safe for you. We’re not in immediate danger, but we’re hiding out.”
“Give me a clue at least to what part of the country you’re in. You’re not somewhere dreadful, like Florida, are you?”
I don’t know what it is that Lola has against Florida, but she loathes the state. Personally, I love it. White beaches, ocean the color of the most perfect turquoise, and sunny weather. What’s not to like?
I laugh a little at her words. “I can reassure you it’s nowhere like Florida. We’re not too far from home.” I don’t think that’s giving too much away, and so I let her have that little snippet. After all, not too far from home could mean anywhere within hundreds and hundreds of miles’ radius.
