Page 49 of Requiem & Reverie

Dale stares back at Simon for a moment, the look in his eyes a cross between understanding and disappointment. “You’re right. I should stay here for any questions. You’ll help her to her car then?”

“Of course,” Simon responds, guiding me back the other way. “C’mon, Nola. You need to catch your breath.”

With a nod, I allow Simon to walk me back toward my vehicle, and he opens the door, helping me sit down in the driver’s seat.

“What the hell is happening?” I stare off at the pavement, my eyes so weary, I still can’t see past a blur. It’s as if I’ve spent the whole week looking through glassy, unfocused eyes. “Who would do such a horrible thing?”

“Well, on the upside, Harv won’t harass you anymore.”

At his comment, I frown, and when I meet his gaze, he flinches.

“Sorry. Too soon.”

I feel numb, and it’s then it occurs to me, I’ve never seen a dead body in person before. It’s a bit like catching the tail end of a horrific story, the compelling need to know what happened to them chipping away at my brain. I can’t distract my thoughts from how disturbingly at peace the two of them looked, as though they upped and decided to lie down together and stop breathing.

“I’m not too good with these things. I’m a bit awkward when it comes to death.”

“I’ll remember that at the funeral.” I pause for a moment and something about that makes me laugh. It’s dark, inappropriate, hysterical laughter that takes over me, and I slap a hand to my mouth to clap it before someone hears me.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Nola? I don’t mind driving you home. We can take your car, if you’re more comfortable.”

“And how would you get home?”

He shrugs. “Walk.”

I shake my head at that. “I’ll be fine. I’m just … tired of all the death. I’m tired of worrying. I’d love nothing more than to go to sleep for a long time.”

“I understand.”

“I’m gonna go. Thank you for walking me to my car.”

“Anytime. Careful getting home. Listen …” He tugs a pen from inside his pocket, along with what looks like his receipt from earlier, and jots down a number. “Can you just call, or send me a text when you’re home, so I can sleep okay tonight?”

I get it. The guy probably feels responsible for me, thanks to Dale assigning him the task of babysitting me.

“Sure. I can do that.”

“Good. I just …. I feel like I’m going to regret not driving you, but if you text, I’ll feel better.”

“Okay.” With a nod, I close the door and start up the vehicle. As I pull out of the lot, I hear sirens and spot two police cars rounding the corner just past the diner in my rear view. When they turn into the parking lot, that’s when it finally hits me.

I break.

For a split second, when I looked down at Beth and Harv lying in the back of that van, I imagined Oliver in their place. Sleeping peacefully, as if he lay down to nap and never woke.

It left me wondering what his last thoughts would have been. If he’d wonder why I never came for him. All those days of wondering if I’d ever find him.

Perhaps he thinks I’ve given up on him.

I haven’t.

I never will.

17

Voss

I’ve already showered and changed back at my hotel, and I’m just slipping on my jacket to head back to the Conservatory when a call lights up my phone.