by Maria Quick
‘Are you kidding?’ George spluttered. I shook my head. I really wasn’t. ‘You practically egged them on. You lead them to do it.’
‘I didn’t force anyone,’ I noted. ‘They could’ve asked to visit my home, but they didn’t. Maybe that’s what they will do, come to that. It’s all conjecture for now. And we don’t have much time as it is. So, I’m gonna go back to their hotel if that’s alright with you guys. Are you coming or what?’
Their curiosity overwhelmed their indignation and they came with me. I knew they would.
14
It was a quiet drive; usually something I’d appreciate, but not today. I was going to commit yet another crime. Although if you’d ever read my rap sheet, you’d see it was technically nonexistent. My lawyer was amazing. Probably helps that I’m pretty savvy, too. I know what not to do, i.e. let myself get seen. I only leave fingerprints in places I’ve already been in. And since I usually only steal from criminals, if I somehow forget to do all that, my transgressions are instantly forgotten. And of course, it helps that my dad is a highly-esteemed member of society.
He’s a football coach, remember.
It hasn’t always been like this, though. When I was younger, I didn’t really know that lying and committing crimes was better than telling the cops the truth. It’d always go the same way. I’d launch into an unrehearsed spiel about where the body was, or why the father killed his son. Then, they’d grow interested, and ask me how I knew. That’s when it all went to hell. I’d never found a plausible explanation; even now. I obviously couldn’t mention the G-word, so instead I’d hesitate and mumble a lot. That’s when they’d grow quiet. They’d ask me my name again, or stare me out. That’d be followed by the words “excuse me for a moment” and I’d wait about ten minutes while they searched me up. They’d return angry and pissed, throwing me out of the building.
Even though I’d helped. Even though I was right. Even though I knew things they didn’t know themselves.
They never believed me. Nobody ever has.
Well, except Ally I suppose, but if I told her that I saw demons and vampires too, she wouldn’t blink an eye.
And there was Tommy Perez, but he was dead now, thanks to me.
Ugh. The cross I had to bear.
‘I thought we were in a rush,’ Ronnie tutted in the back.
‘We are.’
‘Then, get a move on!’
‘I will,’ I snapped, calming my tone when they both jumped. ‘When I’m ready. I’m just wallowing in despair right now.’
‘Great. I remember Gelly doing that. I’m not going to ask.’
‘What’s up?’ George asked. Ronnie shook his head sadly.
‘Oh, the usual. The world is against me, I have no idea what I’m doing with my life, and nobody ever listens.’
‘And you’re doing this now? When we’re on a tight time schedule?’
I sighed.
‘See what I mean?’ I bemoaned.
‘Hey, I listened,’ George shrugged. ‘You didn’t say we had to care.’
‘I don’t either, for that matter,’ Ronnie helpfully put in. ‘Are we going or what?’
I missed female lucies. I think every girl needs a good female friend to talk to, and to share all sorts of icky feelings and emotions. Guys can’t do it. They try, but when they see me getting a little “shouty” or “emotional” or even “stabby,” they run away. And don’t come back.
I hadn’t had a close female friend – or friend, in fact – since the first year of middle school. There was no other loner loser but me, as hard as that was to believe. Mickey didn’t count. He was always going to be a loser. But me? I’d had a shot. I could’ve been normal. I could be in a mall right now, with my gal pals, drinking coffee-flavored sugar and talking about nothing. And instead, I was sitting in a car, contemplating a life in prison, with two irritated ghosts as company.
‘Any minute now-’
‘Alright, I’m going!’ I yelled, interrupting Ronnie’s bored tone. Relieved, they followed me out the car as I snuck through the bushes surrounding the cabin. They didn’t offer great cover, but nobody was home and I was certain that nobody was watching. I tried the front door, which was unsurprisingly locked. Eyeing up the windows, I didn’t really fancy my chances. I headed for the back door instead, not expecting much. I inspected the lock, wondering if my bobby pins would open it somehow. I’d seen it happen on TV.
‘Any good at lock picking?’ George asked.
I turned the handle and it opened.
‘Wow, pretty good.’
I scowled at him and we went in, closing the door behind me.
‘What am I trying to find again?’ I asked Ronnie, staring dejectedly at his wife’s wedding ring on the kitchen counter. He looked down at his own ring, eternally on his finger.
‘Anything that’ll send her to prison,’ he growled.
‘Helpful,’ I concluded. I gazed around the sparsely-but-beautifully decorated living space and sighed.
‘I’m gonna go root in her drawers. Let me know if you guys spot anything, okay?’
I left Ronnie to glare and George to stare warily at him. I didn’t think they’d be much help.
The bedroom was pretty big. The four-poster bed was made out of walnut, I think, and it was professionally made. So, a maid had been in to clean, I assumed, cursing myself for not even thinking about that. At least she wasn’t here now. I checked my options. I had about an hour before Jose and Angela could be coming back, but I thought that’d be enough time. There were a couple dressers in the room and two nightstands. It wouldn’t take long to search for whatever I was supposed to be looking for.
I opened the first drawer, immediately finding a half-empty box of condoms and assorted... paraphernalia. I quickly closed it shut, focusing all my energy on erasing it from my mind. Okay. Drawer number two, please don’t make me hurl. It was empty, which offered me nothing but relief. Knowing that every drawer wouldn’t be gross, I completed the rest of my search with ease.
And came up with nothing.
Either I was totally useless at this, or there was nothing to find. I suspected it was the former, but I steadfastly refused to believe that.
‘There’s nothing here,’ I called out. They mumbled something back, but I was too far away to make it out. I could hear them rummaging about in the other room.
I checked the wardrobe as a last resort. Plenty of skimpy outfits hung up, things that even I wouldn’t wear at my age, and a few scattered pairs of designer shoes. I peeked at her shoe size but they were too big for me. I was about to give up completely and lay into Ronnie when I saw it. A small baggie, stuffed behind a luggage bag. I picked it up, inspecting the contents. Pills. Sleeping pills, maybe? Or poison, intended for Ronnie. Could be a backup plan in case the pier thing hadn’t worked out. Wow, maybe I was actually getting somewhere.
‘I think-’ I called, before shutting myself up and panicking.
Lucies can’t rummage.
Slowly, quietly, I turned around, to be faced with Ronnie and George comically holding a finger to their lips. I raised an eyebrow. It was a little late now. I crept over to the ajar door and hid behind it, waiting for a moment to run like hell.
I heard whispering. Two men. They sounded rough, and I couldn’t understand them.
‘What language is that?’ I mouthed to George.
He mouthed something back at me. I held in a sigh and waited for him to remember his state.
‘Oh, sorry. I keep forgetting. They’re speaking Spanish.’
‘Any idea what they’re talking about?’ I hissed.
He shrugged.
‘Beats me. I haven’t spoken it since high school. I think they mentioned a dead horse.’
‘Okay, you’re no help.’
The sounds from the other room immediately came to a halt. I cringed.
‘Did I say that out loud?’ I mouthed.
Sadly, they nodded.
I didn’t hear anything else. Maybe I
’d spooked them, and they’d ran off. Stupidly, I decided to look myself, instead of asking someone who was already dead. I peeked through the doorway and came face-to-face with the barrel of a gun. Oh, crap.
‘Um, room service?’ I tried. George groaned in disgust.
‘Americana?’ the guy spat. I nodded. He was dressed all in black, wearing a balaclava. Wearing gloves. No fingerprints, my mind whispered. Thanks for that.
‘Who are you?’
‘I...’ I trailed off. Not because I was scared, oh no. Even though I was about thirty seconds away from peeing myself and wailing like a banshee. I didn’t know who these amigos were. I didn’t know what answer to give. If they were trying to steal from my “stepmom,” clearly they weren’t her friends. Which meant being her stepdaughter was not a good option. Instead, I opted to stare at my would-be murderer, horrified.
His finger flicked the safety off. Okay, I was definitely going to pee myself.
‘George, run!’ I yelled, hoping he’d take the bait. He did, and he ran far away enough for me to do the same in the opposite direction. I broke through the back door, dashing straight towards my car, ignoring the shouts and trees I crashed into. I’d left the key in the ignition; ordinarily absolutely stupid but this time, it saved my life. My hands were shaking so hard I could barely turn it, and as soon as the car came to life, I sped off into oncoming traffic. Horns blared but I didn’t care, I just had to get away. I almost screamed myself when I saw movement in the backseat, before I realized it was only Ronnie. George was MIA, but I couldn’t think of that right now. The drive back to my hotel was so quick I almost missed the turning, cueing more horns and yells my way. I parked badly, nearly snapping the keys as I pulled them out and fell out of the car. Safety. I was almost there. I shoved my way through the double doors of the lobby, giving the receptionist a heart attack. I was too het up to wait for the elevator so I bounded up all twenty flights of stairs, missing a few and bruising everywhere. I didn’t stop until I’d swiped my way into my room, locked the door behind me and fell face first onto my bed.
‘Woo! What a rush,’ Ronnie said.
In, out. In, out. Deep breaths. I wasn’t dead. Could’ve been, wasn’t. Am not dead. I am not dead. I said it to myself a multitude of times before I even began to believe it. I ran out of air and flipped over, facing the astoundingly bright ceiling light. I was practically blinded within a minute, but that didn’t matter. It meant I was alive.
‘You should’ve seen your face,’ he cackled. ‘You looked absolutely terrified. Understandable, obviously, but it made me laugh. Thanks for that. I almost thought you were a goner, you know? Are you alright?’
After twenty minutes of hyperventilating, I was. I could think clearly again.
I was an idiot. With no cops on my side, and not enough intellect or skill to become Nancy Drew, I was doomed. Even worse than that, I could’ve been killed. In a place I’d never been to before. My dad might never have found out.
This had to stop. I couldn’t help out Ronnie any longer. I’d send the police an anonymous letter telling them what I knew, but that was it. I had to tell him that he was on his own.
Before I could, George emerged through the wall, looking a little concerned. My stomach sank.
‘Don’t tell me,’ I warned him. ‘I don’t want to know.’
‘You’ll want to know this,’ he sighed.
‘The plot thickens,’ Ronnie cried, full of glee.
We both ignored him.
‘You were followed. Not by those guys, but some other guys. Real mean-looking, driving an anonymous van. The driver received a call and they saw your car and followed you all the way here. They saw you run up the stairs. They were outside your door a minute ago, but they only watched it. Then, they walked away.’
‘Oh my God,’ I whimpered.
I had to leave. I had to pack my things, and go to another hotel. Or another country. Maybe Latvia. That was far away. That’d be safe for me. Probably.
‘Who are these people?’ George asked. I shrugged, but he was asking Ronnie.
‘Haven’t the foggiest. I thought cheating was about as exciting as Gelly’s life got. Clearly, I am missing something.’
‘Ya think?’ I snapped. ‘You can’t think of anything that’d help me? Anything at all?’
‘I’m sorry,’ he sighed. ‘If I’d known how this’d turn out, I would never have asked you-’
‘Yes, you would,’ I retorted. ‘Because I’m the only one you can ask.’
I needed a rest. I closed my eyes and lay down, and then shot back up, alert. What was I doing? I didn’t have time for a nap. I had to leave this place before I never left at all.
I grabbed my things, strewn carelessly around the room, and shoved them in my suitcase.
‘This is a bad idea. You’re being watched, right now,’ George informed me, in case I’d somehow forgotten. ‘Look, this place has cameras. Security, a lot of people moving in and out. They can’t touch you here. The second you leave, they’ll be following. They could get you easily in the street. You’re safer here than you are out there.’
I stopped my restless moving. He was right. There was really no good option for me, but staying in a four-star hotel was not the worst thing I could do.
‘What do I do instead?’ I asked.
‘Wait,’ he suggested.
I flopped back onto the bed. Maybe I did have time for a nap after all.
15
As it turned out, I wasn’t great at waiting. After the initial fear had washed away, I was left with nothing but tedium. There was no entertainment in my room. My laptop bored me, and the TV was only showing crappy war dramas and thrillers.
‘That won three Oscars,’ Ronnie spluttered, as I groaned and switched the whole thing off.
‘So? It’s boring.’
‘Oh, God. Let me guess. Romcoms are more your thing?’
‘Ew, no,’ I shuddered, frankly offended.
He gave me a curious look, trying to figure me out. George put him out of his misery.
‘Action. She likes action films. Lots of explosions, car chases, punchy people. That sorta thing.’
It was Ronnie’s turn to shudder.
‘Maybe you could do some more research, then?’
‘On what?’
‘Er, hello?’ he said, gesturing to his body. I rolled my eyes.
‘Yeah, I gathered that part. But what exactly do you want me to look for? The cops have about as many leads as I do. Face it, Ronnie. It may not end-’
‘Yeah, I know. It may not end well.’
‘Not that,’ I sighed. ‘It may not end full stop. You might have to find a way to come to peace with that.’
‘But I know who killed me,’ he pouted.
Hey, I shared his frustration. The amount of killers I knew roaming free in the world was enough to make a whole new prison. Don’t even get me started on how many people are wrongly imprisoned. Both statistics are pretty depressing.
‘Nothing I can do about that,’ I shrugged. ‘You’re not the only one, believe me.’
‘You’ve had lucies like that?’ George asked, morbidly intrigued.
‘Other than Ronnie? A couple times. One girl in particular refused to give in to her plight. I’ve met her about four times over the years. Each time she came back, she’d unsurfaced “new” information about her death. I couldn’t do anything with it, and told her so. She’d only leave again, trying to find out something else. Actually, now that I think of it, I haven’t seen Izzy in almost a year. She’s overdue.’
‘What’s her story?’
I was stopped from dredging up the memories by Ronnie’s indignant stare.
‘Excuse me! Are you sorting out my issues or somebody else’s here?’
‘My own, at the minute,’ I pointed out. He shut up.
I’d almost kept it at the back of my mind, but it kept rudely popping up every now and then. Somebody was out to get me. And I was a sitting duck, waiting to be picked off. A
part of me wished I hadn’t taken George’s advice to stay, but a begrudging voice in my mind told me he was right. This whole thing was such a fiasco already, and I still hadn’t gotten anything concrete.
‘Let’s pretend you die tonight,’ George said brightly, startling me.
‘Pardon me?’
‘Come on, it’s a game. What would you do if you died tonight?’
‘Probably end up stuck with you guys in the nether forever,’ I shrugged, shivering. It wasn’t a pleasant thought.
‘I should be offended by your reaction, but the feeling’s mutual,’ Ronnie commented.
‘I’m serious. What would you do?’ George pressed. ‘If you knew today was your last day, what would you do differently? Would you have any regrets? Any confessions?’
‘Ooh, now this is a game I like,’ Ronnie chuckled, getting comfortable on the armchair.
‘I’m old enough to be your daughter,’ I frowned at him. ‘And I hate to break it to you, but my life’s been pretty dull. Some girls my age get pregnant, others do drugs. I see ghosts. That’s it.’
‘Seriously? You’d have nothing to say or do? No last requests at all?’ George asked, majorly let down.
‘Nope. I guess I’d call my dad, though. Tell him I’m sorry for being an idiot. Again.’
‘I’m disappointed in you,’ he said.
‘Not the first time I’ve heard that,’ I sighed. He went quiet.
I checked my watch. It was past midnight, and I was growing restless. I called down to reception to order a burger for my room purely for something to do. George broke out of his unconscious stupor long enough to narrow his eyes at me.
‘What’s on it?’
‘Tomato, ranch. Bacon. Triple cheese. And a side of chili fries. Actually, now that I think of it, it sounds disgusting. Why did I order that?’ I grimaced.
‘I haven’t eaten anything in three days,’ he mused, with an unreadable expression. I reached out to gently pat him, before checking myself.
‘If this menu is anything to go by, you ain’t missing much.’
‘I’ll never eat anything again,’ he whispered, and I held in a groan. He was doing this now? Again? I watched as he slowly sank through the wall he’d been leaning on, not even realizing he was doing it. ‘I’ll never try lobster. I can’t eat pulled pork or braised ham-’