Page 87 of Requiem

My grip on him tightens as the panic seizes me from within. “Tell. Me!”

“He forced his way into your apartment and knocked Natalie out. He was waiting when … when Julia got home tonight. He took her … somewhere …”

Suddenly his voice sounds so far away, and the starry sky above me has started to spin. I can’t stay upright for a single second longer, so I drop to my knees as my viola case slides off my shoulder and into the grass. Brett is there, squatting in front of me, shaking me.

“Oh, God. Oh, my God,” I whisper. “When? Is David with them?”

“No,” he says firmly. “No, David is still with Natalie. She wants to call the police …”

“No! No police!” I hiss, grabbing his arm and staring at him in wild-eyed desperation.

I don’t know what’s happened yet, but I know enough – I know him well enough – not to get the police involved. He’ll hurt her … No, he’ll kill her before he lets himself be caught by the police. Besides, the fucker’s brilliant in that crazy, cunning, dangerous way. He’s most likely got a fool-proof back-up plan in place, should he have to make a run for it. And then Julia is dead for sure.

No. My only chance to do this myself.

“Matthew?” Brett is shaking my arm.

“No. Police,” I grit out.

He takes a deep breath and nods. “Okay, man, no police. I promise. But we need help. Come on, you have to stand up now so we can get moving. I’ll tell you everything in the car, but we have to leave now, Matthew. Do you understand?”

I swallow hard and nod. He extends a hand to help me get back up on my feet. I take it, and allow him to lead me by the shoulder toward the parking lot. In the meantime, he’s dialed someone else and seems to be waiting for a response.

“Mom,” he utters into the phone, after a long moment. “Mom, I need you to do something for me. It’s really important.”

I fight back the wave of panic and fear that threatens to unravel me. But it’s too late. The destructive events are already transpiring and the clusterfuck is imminent.