"Still watching that crap?"
"I know," I say, leaning back. "I'm sort of sick of it too."
"Give yourself a break. Go on a run, take a walk, do something fun."
"I just want to lay low for a few days after all the fun I was having this week."
"Well, I guess I can't get mad at you for that."
She hands me a cup of coffee and I take it. She sips hers and tells me she has to get ready for work. So she turns back around and heads into her room. I'm so grateful I met Paige. She's been a true friend to me despite my history and all of the drama that has come with my line of work. She agreed to hold me up here too for a short while, at least until I can get back on my feet.
As CNN goes to commercial, I think about what I left behind in Washington. Ben is still there, and we haven't talked to each other much in the last three days. He says he's still getting stuck in conversation with reporters about the senator and the president. He says he has to go back to court soon. Lawyers say the case will be dropped against him but that he still has to be there for the sake of procedure. I ask him if he'll come to Minnesota, and he asks if I'll come back to Washington.
I don't think either of us are going to budge.
My phone buzzes against the coffee table before me. I set my cup down and pick up my phone. It's a number I didn't expect to see in a long time. But I guess it makes sense given all of the national news popping up around here.
It's Chase. He's one of my best friends from back home in New City. We spent so much time together growing up. He practically saved my life back in 2017 when a serial killer chased me and brought me into the woods. Ugh. What a horrible memory. He's always been my sounding board for these things, too. He's my common outsider opinion.
Seeing his name makes me remember that he had called me around the time this entire mess with the senator started and I didn't ever call him back. Some friend am I.
I answer the call now though. I have some free time.
"Chase, Chase. Look who it is."
"Annette Gardner. Still making headlines I see."
"SOrry?"
"Come on, you don't think I know an Annette Gardner breaking news story when I see one?"
"You know me too well."
"Maybe. It's just my theory, of course. I don't expect you to confirm this to me."
"Don't worry," I say. "I won't."
"Good. So how are you?"
"I'm okay. I actually called you the other day but you didn't answer. And that's fine, I get it, whatever. You clearly had some more interesting things to do."
"Threat of death, nearly getting shot outside the U.S. Capitol building. Yeah, I'd say that's busy work."
Chase laughs on the other end of my phone.
"So what's up? Is there something going on? I mean, two calls in less than two weeks is a pretty big deal."
"I don't know if it's anything huge or whatever, but something's been going on back home. I've been living up in Billerica for my new job but I've seen some stuff on the news about home. South Hills, specifically."
"South Hills," I roll my eyes when I say it. "That town is always stirring up drama. Missing boys, school shootings, that guy who died but then was actually alive and went on the run. Yeah, that's a bad town. There's always something going on there."
"Yeah, that's what I figured. There's always something wrong or dramatic happening there. It's like the town has some bad energy."
"So what happened?"
"Like I said, I'm not really sure. I just saw something on the news. There was apparently a murder at the class of 2009's high school reunion. Someone was killed and everyone was locked inside the building for a few hours. I don't know what the hell happened. But now they're looking for the suspect. I figured it might interest you. If you're ever looking for something."
That does sound interesting. A murder mystery where people were locked inside of a school for hours. It has all the makings of a perfect true crime podcast. Of course, it is South Hills, a town known for its dramatics. And it's only two towns away from New City, so it's practically like home. I'm not sure I'm ready to go home yet.
But I do need something to do. And with all of this stuff unfolding in Washington, and with nothing to do here in Minnesota, going home might be the right move.
"I don't know," he says. "Just think about it. I can take a week off or something if you're coming back home. Make it a bit easier."
I smile. Oh, Chase. Always trying to help me and rescue me when I need it most. But it would be nice to see him again. If I am going to survive at home, I would need a friendly face by my side.
"I'll let you know."
We hang up a few minutes later after we catch up a bit. I set my phone down on the table. I stare blankly out at the world. The clock of the living room ticks behind me.
Paige walks back into the room. Her hair is wet from a shower, but she's dressed for work.
"Who was that?"
"Chase. A friend from back home."
"Oh. And what did he want?"
"He says there was a murder back home if I need something to do. If I'm looking to do more murder reporting again, you know?"
"And what did you tell him?"
I didn't know what I wanted to do until that very moment. It's funny how sometimes we can't make decisions until we're forced to. Or until the moments hits us right.
I look at page. I offer her a smile. I smile through the fear. Sometimes that's the best thing you can do.
"I'm going home."
INTO THE NIGHT
JANUARY 23, 2019 -- FEBRUARY 24, 2019
UTAH
Contact Herb Scribner
Contact Herb Scribner
Feel free to send me any feedback, thoughts, or ideas to [email protected].
Sign up for our daily newsletter!
Connect with me on social media!
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Follow me on these networks:
Goodreads
Amazon
MORE BY HERB SCRIBNER
THE PEN ANTHOLOGY:
The Pen
Battle Born
The Winter Darkness
OTHER WORKS:
Nessus
A New Day
Not Afraid of You
Never Saw Me Coming
SUNSET TO SUNRISE:
Sunset to Sunrise (season 1)
A Song For a Heart (season 2)
Too Late for Apologies (season 3)
HOLIDAY STORIES:
’Twas a Scary Christmas Night
A Town Called Santa
Christmas in LA
Falling For Cupid
Check out these other titles from our friends!
“A Wider Universe” by Allison Floyd
“Aether Spark” by Nicholas Petrarch
“Favored” by B. Owen
Wonder Girl Astrology's 2019 Astrological Planner by Wonder Girl
“Ethan's Talent Search” by Eric Woodyard
“Wasted” by Eric Woodyard
… Annette Gardner will return in ON ROAD AFTER DARK …
Into the Night Page 25