Page 176 of My Heart Still Beats
What about that asshole?
I thought he was out of my life.
I walk into the living room and take a seat.
“Mr. Ramirez, who is currently awaiting trial for assault and battery of Ms. Tessa Logan, who is currently dating Mr. Black, claims to have evidence that Mr. Black is responsible for the death of Mr. Travis McKee, who escaped from the Massachusetts Correctional Institution fifteen years ago…”
The words slow down, are drawn out, as if seeping out like blood oozing from a wound.
My breath catches in my throat, but I close my eyes, force it out slowly. My stomach knots, and a mix of nausea and disbelief make my legs cramp, my arms turn to jelly. This can’t be happening. My thoughts race as I try to process what I’m hearing through the garbled words on television.
Garrett and Davidweren’tmaking it up.
Or if they were, they’ve gone public with it anyway. If they have enough evidence for the evening news to take this seriously, then…
I have to call Ben. I swallow, force my body to work.
I grab my phone and—
Ben:I’m sorry. I can’t make it tonight.
Of course he can’t. He’s probably on the phone with his lawyers right now.
Or the authorities.
My stomach twists further into knots.
If I want to talk to him, I’ll have to go to his house. He may not be there, but I’ll wait. He’ll have to show up eventually.
I breathe in, shaking out my arms. I needed Ben’s strength. Now he needs mine.
I hastily pack up the dinner, give Rita a quick kiss goodbye, and hail a cab.
Thirty minutes later, I’m knocking on Ben’s door, a bag of food in one hand and the pearl inside the small silk bag in the other.
“Ben, it’s me!” I yell. “Open up!”
He doesn’t answer.
Oh, God. Has he been arrested already?
I pound on the door.“Ben!”
Still no answer.
Fuck it, I’ll break in if I have to. This is the man I love. And damn it, this time he’ll listen when I say those three words.
I check some of the windows by the front door. All locked. I walk around his massive yard to the back of the house. I eye the security cameras as I walk through.
If they alert him to my presence, all the better.
I make it to Ben’s back door and try it. It opens, thank God.
I run inside. “Ben, are you here?”
Silence.
I run upstairs. One door is closed.
