Let Me Go

by DC Renee

  “It was Kat.”

  The rest of the conversation didn’t matter. But Kat relived that part of it for a reason. At the time, she hadn’t thought anything of Benny saying Katherine. Kat was short for something and she just brushed it off because she thought Benny assumed that was her full name. It had happened to her before after all. People would say things like, “Kat, with a ‘K’, huh? What is it short for?” or they would say, “Kat like Katherine?” Besides, Mason had answered Benny using her widely accepted nickname, Kat. She hadn’t even used her full name, Kaitlyn, in so long that a lot of her paperwork even listed Kat as her name. But now… now it clicked. It wasn’t Kat Gingham that had accused Mason, er, maybe it was Kat, but it wasn’t Kaitlyn. It was Katherine.

  She snapped out of her memories and practically screeched, “A twin!”

  “Yes, Kat, I see you have yet to understand the concept. The guy whose hand you are still holding onto, for dear life I must say, is my twin brother Ty. Although, we are only identical in looks.”

  She looked down at the hand she was squeezing and blushed with embarrassment before she let go. “No, Trent,” she said turning to her friend, “we are looking for the wrong person. It wasn’t me.”

  “Yes, we’ve established that. That’s why we are trying to find the right accuser.”

  “No! Argh! I’m not getting this right. You are a twin, right? How many times did you and Ty trick people into thinking one was the other?”

  “Oh! The shit we used to pull off! Classic! But what does that have anything to do with…” He trailed off, and then his face lit up. “Oh shit! You don’t know anything about your biological family, right?”

  She didn’t and she shook her head no.

  “Oh my God! That can’t be it! It can’t! That would be way too freaking crazy! You have an evil mastermind twin out there that you don’t know about and because of her, you got roped into this mess?”

  “Oh God, Trent! It has to be! Stop looking for Kaitlyn Gingham and start looking for Katherine Gingham. Particularly, one that looks exactly like me.”

  Chapter 37

  Trent was able to secure the police reports and some trial transcripts, but they only confirmed what they already knew. The accuser was Katherine “Kat” Gingham. Apparently she was no stranger to the police. She had her fair share of missteps, which mostly included drugs. So, how she had convinced a jury that Mason was a rapist, especially with her not-so-incredible character, was beyond both Kat and Trent. Trent had mumbled something about injustice and righteous judges trying to make an example of the rich. It didn’t matter now, what was done was done. They had to go about making it right.

  So they had to find Kat’s sister. The problem was that any known address was a bust and it was like she had vanished into thin air. Trent spent weeks trying to find her, trying to catch some lead, but everywhere he looked people were vague and sketchy. Sometimes, he was pointed in the right direction, only to find out he had just missed her. So, at least it seemed this mysterious Katherine Gingham did exist. And when he showed people pictures of his Kat, they all said she looked familiar. It looked like they were dead on with their theory. Either that or they were dealing with a doppelganger that happened to have the exact same name.

  Kat didn’t give up, but the weeks with no answers were taking a toll on her. She checked in with Benny, but every time he asked her about her progress, she brushed him off. She didn’t want to give him, and in turn Mason, any false hope. She figured it was better to say nothing than to tell him only pieces. She yearned to call Mason, but she didn’t have the courage. She knew once she heard his voice, she’d break down, forget this search, and run to him. She was also secretly a little afraid that he might move on, and she couldn’t handle knowing that. And every time she asked Benny about it, he assured her Mason loved her and was miserable without her. “So hurry up and get back to him, Kitty Kat. He needs you and don’t you dare tell me you don’t need him,” he told her almost every time they spoke.

  It was true, she did need Mason, but she had to be strong enough to resist, or this would always overshadow them.

  She also felt guilty that she was living off of Mason. She knew that the money wouldn’t last forever, so she found a part-time job waitressing. What a waste of her education, but she couldn’t find a permanent job when she needed flexible hours to help chase down a lead when Trent found something. So her time was divided between working, spending time with Trent, even Ty and some of Trent’s friends, and chasing down her ghost of a sister. She had spent time in crumbling deserted buildings, nasty motels, shit-hole apartments, random dive bars, and even some ERs. But it seemed like Katherine was always one step ahead of them. Sometimes Kat wondered if Katherine knew she was being tracked or if she was just incredible unlucky.

  One thing she learned was that Mason had been right about his accuser. Her sister, Katherine, was a druggie. Sometimes she did sell her body for money or drugs, so apparently, she was a whore too. Some great family genes she had there. Kat couldn’t help but be nervous that there was something inherently wrong with her because her sister was a bad seed, and although she didn’t know her parents, they clearly didn’t care about her or Katherine. They probably weren’t the best people either. She had mentioned this to Trent, who spent hours reassuring her that there was nothing bad about her. And it was during one of those rants where she was plied with enough alcohol that she actually spilled the truth to Trent – that is, the truth about how she ended up with Mason.

  After she realized what she had done, she was afraid that Trent was going to backtrack and refuse to help her. Then she was afraid he would turn Mason in, then she was afraid Trent would try to turn her against Mason, but he surprised her instead.

  “Holy shit! You’re serious?”

  “Afraid so,” she mumbled. “Do you hate me now? If you don’t want to be my friend or help me anymore, I understand. But please, don’t turn Mason in.”

  “Oh honey, why on earth would I stop being your friend?”

  “Because I lied to you and I fell in love with my kidnapper.”

  “I get why you lied, it’s not like you knew me all that well, but I’m glad you trust me enough to tell me now, although a drunken confession might not count as trust, but we’ll pretend it does. And yes, sure, it is pretty odd that you fell for your kidnapper, even more so that you were freaking kidnapped in the first place. But I trust you, and if you say he didn’t hurt you and you understand why he did it, then I believe you. And holy hell if I’m not a diehard romantic and want to believe the best in people and that love changes them and all that good stuff. So forgive me if I’m a little taken aback that you are living a real-life romance fiction. But, good for me, I get to live vicariously through you.”

  She loved having Trent in her life just a little more that day.

  And then, one day she was coming home, just opening the door to the apartment building, carrying a few groceries, when she heard someone call her name. She turned to see Trent running toward her, waving his hands in the air. He was laughing out loud like a maniac and had a bounce in his step.

  “Kat! Kat! Wait,” he called out. So, naturally, she waited by the front door.

  Finally, he reached her and he doubled over a bit, putting his hands on his knees and gasping for air.

  “Trent, are you all right?” she asked as she put her groceries on the floor and smoothed his hair.

  “Yes, yes, just give me a minute,” he said.

  After a second, he stood up, smiled, and said, “I ran all the way here. I was too excited to even think about driving or catching a cab or even taking a bus. Now I think that might not have been the best idea. I guess I also could have potentially called, but I wanted to tell you in person. And then I see you standing here and I knew I had made the right decision because it was fate that you were practically waiting for me.”

  “Trent,” Kat cut him off. “First off, breathe, I haven’t heard you talk this quickly since you found out your
ex was single. Second, spill. What did you want to tell me?”

  “I found her.”

  “What?”

  “I found her. Kat, I found her. She’s been living in some dump of an apartment with a few other less-than-desirable people, but it’s not under her name and of course, whatever she buys, if she buys anything, is paid in cash, so it’s been a pain to find her. But I got her. You have your chance now.”

  Kat couldn’t believe her ears. Trent found her sister, her link to prove her innocence to Mason and his innocence to the police. Her dreams were coming true. Things were finally falling into place. Tears ran down her cheeks as she leapt into Trent’s arms and hung on for dear life. He wrapped his arms around her and held her while she whispered her thanks in his ear over and over and how lucky she was to have him and how wonderful her life was now going to be.

  Yep, things were looking up.

  Chapter 38

  It had been over a month since Mason last saw Kat, since he last told her he loved her, since he last held her in his arms. He was going crazy. At first, he couldn’t get out of bed, couldn’t move, and just stared at the ceiling. Then he couldn’t find enough things to keep him busy so he didn’t think of Kat. Now he was in some sort of limbo. Nothing seemed to matter.

  He spoke to Benny about this often and Benny told him Kat was miserable too. That made Mason feel wonderful and horrible at the same time. He was elated because that meant she obviously still cared, but he felt like a jerk for being happy that she was upset.

  He missed her, plain and simple. He wanted to see her, and he wanted to touch her. He just wanted her. But she had asked him to let her go. So he was doing just that.

  “Stop moping,” Benny called to Mason as he walked through the front door.

  “I’m not moping, I’m reading.”

  “Is that what they are calling it these days?” Benny snorted.

  “All right, fine, I’m moping, or miserable, or just plain fucking heartbroken. So? What do you want from me?”

  “I want you to get up off your ass and do something about it.”

  “I am doing something about it,” Mason countered.

  “Oh, yeah? And what is that?”

  “Respecting her wishes,” Mason stated.

  “Fuck that. She’s hurt, you’re hurt.”

  “She told me to let her go. I told her I’d do anything, give her anything, and that’s what she asked of me.”

  “Yeah, because she was stuck in this fucking place like a prisoner, so she needed out.”

  “I gave her keys. I wanted her to be free.”

  “Not the same thing, Mason. You can’t have her here for about a year relying solely on your good graces and then tell her one day, never mind. It’s still like being locked up. She needed to figure things out on her own for herself. Hell, I don’t blame her if she needed to make sure she cared about you as more than just the guy she became close to because she had no choice. But now she’s got that and I know she still loves you, no matter what.”

  “So then what are you saying?”

  “Didn’t I already say it?” Benny said while shaking his head in frustration. “I told you to get off your ass and do something.”

  “Yeah, you did say that.”

  “Do I have to fucking spell it out for you? Oh geez, damn, I do. Go fight for her. Go see her. Go tell her you still love her, and you want her back. Tell her you’ll even fucking wait for her if she still needs more time to sort out whatever the hell she’s doing. And I know she’s doing something, but fuck if I know what it is.”

  “I would wait for her. Hell, I am already waiting for her.”

  “So, then go tell her!” Benny practically screamed.

  Shit! Benny was right. Yes, she had asked Mason to let her go. And that is exactly what he did. But she never said anything about fighting for her. He’d just been sitting on his ass, feeling sorry for himself. He hadn’t even thought about what Kat had been doing with herself or how she was feeling, except when Benny would give him updates.

  He grabbed his jacket and ran out, hearing Benny chuckle as he did so. He had no idea how to find her. She could be anywhere. She could have a job; she could be shopping; she could be taking a walk. But he knew where she would go eventually – to the apartment he had gotten her – and he knew where that was. So he’d go there, hoping she was there. But, if not, he’d wait until she came back.

  Her place wasn’t too far from his. It wasn’t exactly convenient to walk there, but he was too pumped up to do anything but practically run. By the time he made it to her apartment building, he had suddenly realized half-running, half-jogging all the way there that this wasn’t necessarily his best idea. And then he saw her walking toward the front steps. She was so close. He stopped short, just watching her. He was mesmerized by the sight of her. She was so beautiful, and now, she had a content look on her face. He must have watched her for longer than he thought because all of a sudden, she was at the front entrance. He had to make his move now. And just when he took a step, he heard someone shouting for Kat. He turned and watched a guy running and calling out to her. Mason didn’t know what to think, he was stunned stupid. He didn’t know who this guy was and why he was calling out to Kat and running toward her. Mason couldn’t help but notice that he was pretty good-looking as well.

  He stopped in front of her and paused to catch his breath. And then she reached out to stroke his hair. Mason’s heart wrenched from watching such an intimate caress. She knew him, obviously. Mason didn’t want to watch anymore, but he couldn’t look away. The guy then straightened and a few words were exchanged between himself and Kat, and then she launched herself into his arms. Oh God, he was too late! She had moved on. He turned and walked away before anyone could see him.

  He reached for his phone and called Benny.

  “I’m too late, man,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” Benny asked.

  “She’s moved on.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I saw her…I went to go see her, but I saw her with someone else. She was hugging a guy and they obviously know each other really well. She’s moved on while I sat around doing nothing.”

  “No, Mason. That can’t be right. I know she loves you. I know it. She asks about you all the time. She even tells me she misses you and how hard it is not being with you.”

  “Because she’s a good person who has a heart. Not because she loves me.”

  “I’m telling you that’s not it.”

  “You’re wrong. It doesn’t matter. I just want her to be happy.”

  “What are you going to do now?”

  “I might as well go check in with my parole officer. I was supposed to see him later, but I guess I’ll see if he can see me now.”

  “All right, Mason, you do that. But I’m telling you, you’re wrong about Kat.”

  Even though Mason was broken hearted, he knew there was nothing he could do. He wanted Kat to be happy, even if she wasn’t with him.

  *****

  Benny knew that whatever Mason saw couldn’t possibly be what he thought it was. He knew one hundred percent, without a doubt, that Kat still loved Mason. He also knew she was up to something, but whenever he would ask, she brushed him off and told him he’d know when the time was right. He hadn’t mentioned this to Mason because he really didn’t know anything and there was no use getting his panties in more of a twist than they already were. Whatever Mason saw, Benny was sure it had something to do with that.

  So Benny couldn’t sit back and watch Mason and Kat make a train wreck out of whatever relationship they had. Mason would back off because he thought it would be the right thing to do. And then maybe Kat would feel like Mason didn’t care anymore. And what good would that do them? Two love sick fools not grasping the concept that they were truly loved by one another.

  Nope, Benny had to do something. And then it hit him. He knew just what to do. Cupid might just be getting some help from Benny. Hey, he coul
d be cupid himself – Bupid. Oh God, that was horrible. Thank God no one could hear his thoughts.

  *****

  Kat was still hugging Trent when her phone rang. It broke them out of their happy little reverie and she pulled her phone out of her pocket. It was Benny. He was probably checking in. She waited a few rings to allow herself to get back to normal so he wouldn’t think anything was wrong. And then she picked up.

  “Hey Benny, what’s up?”

  “It’s Mason!” he said in a panicked voice.

  “What’s wrong? Is he okay? Oh God, please tell me he’s okay.”

  “He’s fine, physically, but Kat, he’s going to turn himself in.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He feels like he needs to atone for what he did to you, so he’s turning himself in. I know you don’t want that, Kat. I tried to talk him out of it, but he seems to think it’s the right thing to do to make you happy.”

  “I have to stop him,” she yelled into the phone.

  “Yeah, you do.”

  Benny gave her the address. She told Trent briefly what was happening and then she headed to find Mason.

  Ten minutes later, she was almost there, but she couldn’t stop the pounding of her heart. Was she too late? Had he turned himself in? What was she going to do? Deny it and tell them he was crazy? She was trying to steady her heart rate, telling herself she’d make it and stop him, and then she let out a sigh of relief when she saw him heading into the building. Oh God, he really was going to turn himself in. That stupid idiot! But damn, did he look good. He looked sad and defeated, but still good. His body was as perfect as ever and his face was that of the gods, but his deep green eyes had lost their luster.

  “Mason!” she called out and he turned. She could see the surprise behind his eyes. And then he smiled a sad smile.