Page 29 of Requiem & Reverie

“I found it hidden in the shower.”

“I knew it! I fucking knew the bastard left something behind!”

“Jonah, I need that back. He’s sending a text. I need to wait for the text!”

“If he sends something, I’ll be—”

The phone dings, and my eyes go wide. I race toward my brother, but before I can swipe the phone out of his hands, he twists away, just like when we were kids and he’d try keeping a toy away from me.

“Goddamn it, Jonah! What is it?”

He hands me the phone and allows me to read the accompanying text.

11pm tonight. Come alone. Duli’s Diner.

“I … I have to go. What if he has Oliver with him? What if he’s willing to make a trade?”

I stare off, realizing what he’s asking, and Jonah swipes the phone from my hand again. As he stands studying it, my head takes me to the scene of driving into Duli’s parking lot, only to find my son’s dead body. I clutch my stomach to hold back the panic bloating inside of me and begging to escape on another round of vomit.

“Who’s he? You know who sent this?” Jonah’s question snaps me out of my disturbing thoughts.

“I’m guessing it’s the one who broke in earlier. The one you were chasing.”

“Who I’m convinced is Voss. And if that is the case, I’ll arrest that son of a bitch on breaking and entering, along with fleeing a police officer. And really, Nola? A trade? You think I’d stand by and let my sister fall into the hands of some psychopath?”

I snap my attention to Jonah, realizing his plan to step in front of me again. To shield me from something he doesn’t need to shield me from. “For Oliver! I’m willing to trade myself for my son!”

“And what if he kills you, huh? What then?”

I’m surprised the question is so hard to answer now, considering it’s the only one I’ve thought about over the last few days. I turn my head, so my brother won’t see the tears gathering in my eyes. “Then Oliver goes with you and Diane. He lives the life he was meant to live.”

“Horseshit. You’re not going anywhere. Remember that little note you thought Harv left on your car? Guess what? One of the victims’ cars was found dumped an hour away from where she was last seen. Know what was on her passenger seat?” He doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “A note. A disgusting little note with a sick and twisted choice, just like yours.”

“You’re just now telling me this?”

“The car was only found this morning. I didn’t want to upset you more. There’s no way in hell I’m letting you near that psychopath.”

“I have to go! He’s expecting me.” I reach out my hand, Jonah’s face blurring behind the moisture in my eyes. “Give me the phone, Jonah.”

“Oliver means everything to me, you know that. But I’m not giving you this phone, and I’m sure as hell not letting you meet up with some asshole who gets off on playing games. I’ll be paying Voss a little visit, so if you happen to know where he is, you better tell me.”

“I don’t know where Voss is. This isn’t Voss!”

“Listen to me. I know … you’re stressed—”

“You don’t know anything, Jonah! You don’t have a child! You don’t know what it feels like to lose the baby you watched over every night. The baby you promised you’d protect with your life. And that’s exactly what I’ll do. I’ll protect Oliver with my life! If that means a trade, then that’s what it means, goddamn it!” I push at my brother’s chest, kicking him back a step, and breathe hard to keep from breaking down.

A stillness lingers between the two of us for a moment.

“You’re right. I don’t know that feeling. And I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. But I do know loss. I know the feeling of watching someone I love sink into irrational thoughts.” He lowers his gaze and shakes the phone in front of me. “I’m going to see if I can get a location on that text. Find out who sent it. If we can find him first, you won’t have to trade anything.”

“And what if you don’t? What if I lose my chance to get my son back?”

“It’s after nine. We’ll get this phone traced before your meeting time. You tell him you’ll be there. If we don’t get a location on him before then, you go to the rendezvous point, but you go with a goddamn cavalry. You’re not doing this alone. Fair?”

“Fair.”

He hands me the phone and I type a message back: