One of Those Faces (97)

He didn’t look at me, staring straight ahead through the windshield. “How did you know where she lived?”

“I’d met her before,” I lied. “What happened to her?”

He glanced at me, a strange look in his eyes that I didn’t quite recognize. “I don’t know for sure yet. She was stabbed, but that’s about all I know for now.”

I remembered the first night watching her in the hallway. She hadn’t locked her door. But it had been locked last night. I was sure of it. “How did you find the body?”

He gripped the steering wheel with both hands. “Her neighbor found her.” We were silent for several minutes, the view dark out the windows, but I could see city lights at the edge of the horizon.

“I’m scared.” Of ending up like Jenny. Of what might happen to Danny.

Wilder didn’t say anything the rest of the drive, but his hand closed around mine.





CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE


I sat for a long time by the river. Everything was so still. Only a siren sounded nearby.

Wilder had dropped me off in front of my building. He’d waited at the bottom of the steps until I was inside. But my eyes drifted to a spot of blood in the corner of the room, and I ran back outside, hearing Wilder’s car engine in the distance. I hadn’t even bothered to lock the door; I just wandered. Down the street and onto the train until I’d ended up in downtown.

I stood up from the Riverwalk steps and surveyed the road. There weren’t any cars parked along the road, but I continued glancing over my shoulder as I walked down Wacker Drive, scared that I’d see someone behind me.

Thunder sounded as I reached the stoop of Iann’s apartment building. I stared up at the door. It was late. I couldn’t buzz up. His roommate would be pissed. I sat on the steps and pulled out my phone.

Are you awake? I texted. I was about to put my phone back into my bag and wait when a response appeared.

Iann (12:24 a.m.): Yes, everything okay?

I quickly typed. Can you come downstairs?

He immediately called me. “Hey, what’s going on?” His voice was still hoarse from sleep.

“I’m downstairs. Can you let me in?” My voice cracked. I couldn’t remember my last drink of water.

“Yeah, hold on. I’ll buzz you in.”

I stood up as the buzzer sounded, and I pulled the door open. “Thanks, I’m coming up.” I ended the call and walked onto the elevator. I didn’t know what I’d say to Iann. Any of it. How could I tell him about Jenny? How could I explain this dread and panic building in my chest with each moment?

The doors opened, and Iann was waiting there, a wrinkled white T-shirt on and his hair tousled. I fell into his arms, intertwining my hands behind his back. I could feel his surprise, but then he pulled me closer against him, his face in my hair. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He looked at me and wrapped my hands in his. “Come inside.”

I leaned against him.

“Are you okay?” he asked, leading me into the kitchen.

“Won’t we wake up your roommate?” I asked, patting Leo on the head when he bounded up to me.

Iann set me down in a chair at the kitchen island. “No, he’s out of town this weekend. What are you doing out here so late?”

“It’s such a long story,” I said.

He sank down in the seat beside me. “Okay, you have to give me something,” he said. “What’s going on?”

I swallowed. “I couldn’t sleep.” I saw Jenny’s eyes, the blood everywhere and shuddered. I rested my face in my hands.

“And you figured you’d go for a walk in the rain?” His lips formed into a grin.

“No,” I said quietly. “I wanted to see you.” You’re scared to be alone.

He held my gaze. “Me too. I’ve missed you.”

I looked away. “Iann . . . a lot’s happened since—”

“Harper, whatever happened while we weren’t together, it doesn’t matter now.” He grabbed both of my hands. “You’re exhausted.” His fingers laced with mine, and we walked to his room. Leo followed behind, panting, and then curled up at my feet as I sat on the edge of the bed.

Iann grabbed a pillow from the other side of the bed and turned.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

He glanced over his shoulder. “I—uh.” He pointed behind me toward the living room. “I’ll take the couch.”

Given the events of the last couple of days, all my fears and doubts about him melted away.

Say it. “No, you should stay here. With me.”

He lingered in the doorway for a second before walking to the bed and sitting down beside me. We both lay down on our backs. “I wasn’t exactly sure where we stood right now.”

I turned on my side and put my hand and head on his chest. “I’m sorry.”

He ran a hand through my hair. “For what? It was my fault. I should’ve been honest with you from the beginning.” His words slowed as he started to drift off. “But, I love you. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I do.” I didn’t know what was going to happen to me, but I did know that and one more thing. “I love you too.”