Page 65 of Silver Edge
My hands shook, but I managed to dial his number. He’d only told me once, but numbers were my thing. It rang and rang until finally an automated system picked up.“The number you have called is no longer in service.”I hit end and redialed but got the same message.
Barbie returned and held out her hand. “I’ll take my phone back now.”
“I still don’t believe you. You’re lying. Drake wouldn’t do this.”
She slipped her phone into her designer purse and headed for the stairs. “I have to give him credit for his acting skills. You were hard to put up with.”
My skin caught fire, and I saw red. No, that wasn’t true. She had to be lying, but where was Drake, and why didn’t his phone work?
“We’re ready. If you don’t mind escorting Scarlet off the premises, we can lock up the building and get the hell out of this wreck. Thank God Daddy’ll be tearing it down soon.”
Click, click, click.
The sound of her heels against the steps stabbed my brain. I flew across the room and swung. She was fast for wearing three-inch heels, but I leaped from the third step and tackled her to the ground. My fist connected with her chin once before someone hauled me off her.
I swung and kicked, but I couldn’t manage to break free. “Do you want to press charges, ma’am?” a deep voice asked from over my head.
“No, just get her out of here.” Barbie managed to get off the floor with the aid of the other officer and a man holding a lock and chains in one hand.
“This isn’t right,” I squealed, managing to kick the man behind me in the shin.
His grip tightened and he dragged me across the dance floor to the side door. “That’s assaulting an officer.”
Barbie’s heels clicked behind us. “Officer, I think it’s best if we just toss her out for now. I mean, think of all the paperwork. Do you really want to waste your time on street scum like her?” she cooed then turned on me. “As for you, Drake won’t be returning. He managed to get what he needed, and now he’s moved on.”
Chains clanked, and I turned to find the man bolting the doors.
I stood and threw the key at her. “I know you’re lying, but believe me, I’ll find out what’s going on.”
“Pathetic.” She turned and took my duffel from the other officer and tossed it on the ground in front of me. “Here. I wouldn’t want you to accuse us of stealing anything. You got a free place to stay for a while, but why don’t you run back to New York City now?” She marched to the front of the venue and turned the corner before the officer shoved me to the ground.
“Don’t let me catch you giving Ms. Elswood any trouble. I’ll be driving by here every day until they tear this place down, and if I see you around here, I’ll lock you up.” He adjusted his utility belt in a show of authority then followed Barbie around the corner.
I sat there, unable to move or process what had just happened. A cold breeze carrying a fine mist surrounded me. I scooted under the overhang of the building and curled into myself, then waited. I waited for hours, but still there was no sign of Drake. My back ached from the cold, hard cement, so I changed positions and waited again. The muted sun lowered on the horizon, traffic thinned on the main street, and icy rain fell, but still no Drake.
When darkness came, I found a little warmth in the corner of the building. Each time lights shone on the street, I’d check the parking lot, but Drake’s car never showed.
Someone kicked my shoe, so I opened my eyes, hoping to see Drake standing over me, but instead I found the skater boy with the knit cap. I must’ve fallen asleep at some point because it was morning.
“Get kicked out? I’m sure we can find a place for you to crash.” He gawked at me, his greasy hair falling over his eyes.
“Hey, man. Leave her be.” His buddy grabbed his shoulder. “We gonna skate or what? Storm’s coming.”
I peered past him and saw puffy dark gray clouds rolling in over the city.
“I’ll be back,” Knit Cap said. “We’ll work out payment for that roof over your head when I get back.” He dropped his board to the ground and rolled away. The sound of gravel crunching and the whir of wheels in motion relaxed the tension in my neck enough for me to move my aching muscles.
The sky looked as angry as I felt. Why didn’t Drake return last night? I couldn’t believe any of what Barbie had said. Was I just in denial?
With protesting arms and legs, I slung my duffel over my shoulder and headed to my warehouse, the one place in the city I could be alone and out of the rain.
If only I had Hawaiian’s number. He should’ve been back from Savannah by now. Certainly, he’d know what happened with Drake. Unless he was in on it, too. Perhaps he was in on it for some sort of cut of the money.
I shook my head, clearing away the idea of Hawaiian being anything other than a friend. Rain pelted down, soaking me to the bone before I reached the warehouse. I’d never looked forward to a quiet place to rest and dry off more than now, but when I turned the corner, all my hope faded. Construction workers were huddling under a brand new awning to the warehouse. A sign posted out front revealed some big chain store was coming soon.
I made my way down the street and found a dry spot under an awning where most of the homeless in the area hung out. I slid down the wall and leaned against the Dumpster, but I refused to cry, refused to believe this was happening.
Drake was a good man. He cared about me, and I was happy. Really happy. I clung to the hope of it all being a lie for the rest of that day and night as I shivered under the awning.
