Page 23 of Save Me
“Only once.”
“Does he know where you are?”
She nodded. “There was this article…”
“Right,” he groaned as he remembered the report in the popular paper. There was even a very grainy photo of Crissy walking on the sidewalk with Emma. Thankfully, the paper had blurred out the little girl’s face. But everything else had been there, including the name and address of the rental and, most importantly, the connection to the owners. “What did he want then?” he asked.
“What he always wants. Money. Payback.” She shrugged, then stood up and walked over to glance in the oven.
“Is there a chance that this is him?” he asked, hating to bother her further. Especially after he’d listened to that last call.
“No.” She shook her head and leaned on the counter as she crossed her arms over her chest. “This was…” Her eyes locked with his. “Someone else. My father is motivated by money. Whoever is calling has alternative goals.”
“Was what he said true?” he asked.
She took a moment before answering. She bit her bottom lip and appeared to be taking several deep breaths.
“Yes,” she finally said.
“It wasn’t in the reports.”
“No.” She shook her head as a single tear slipped down her cheek.
He was up and across the small kitchen. He wanted to reach for her, but she was holding herself so tense he was afraid she’d snap in two if he touched her.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“No,” she quickly replied as she dashed the tears away. “Don’t be. My psychologist assures me that talking about it helps.”
“Does it?”
Her eyes locked with his. “You’re the only person I’ve tried it on so far,” she said with a slight smile.
He smiled. “I want to hold you.”
She nodded. “I’d like that too.” She walked into his arms.
“We’ll finish this discussion later. After we’re awake and have some food in us.” He felt her shake her head.
“No, it does help. Talking about it.” She pulled back slightly. “Besides, it’s fresh in my mind, and I don’t want to forget a thing.”
“You don’t have to. The call was recorded.”
“It was?” She frowned.
“Yes, for now, all the calls are being monitored and recorded. Are you sure you want to talk about it now?”
She dropped her hands and, after glancing at the oven, she nodded. “We have fifteen minutes until those are done. It helps to set a time limit. Like my counseling sessions,” she added with a weak smile.
“Okay.” He nodded towards the sofa.
She smiled. “In here is fine.” She walked over and sat back down on a barstool. He followed her.
After she took a sip of her tea, she started.
“I hadn’t remembered. What he’d talked about. Not until he mentioned it. That’s why it wasn’t on any reports. There’s a lot I’d blacked out.”
“I’ve been told that it happens in cases like this,” he added, and she nodded quickly.
