ve what was about to come. I had fallen in love with Blaine immediately, and since then, that feeling had only grown. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for him, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for me. I loved him far too much to allow something to happen to him, and that was how I knew I was making the right decision.
Before I reached the turn, I slowed down and looked out over the dark waters of the ocean for the last time. It was so beautiful and had been my strength as a kid. I wanted to frame that picture in my mind to look at while I was away, so I could find comfort and strength in it. I knew it was stupid, but I was going to prison an innocent woman. I didn’t have the ruthless nature in me that so many other women in the prison would have. I didn’t care about making friends or becoming part of one of the gangs. I just wanted to sit quietly every day for the next ten years and hope for the best to come. My mother was going to have a heart attack when she found out her ex-husband was dead and her daughter was in prison.
It would seriously mess up her reputation at the yacht club.
I sighed as I thought about it, turning away from the beach and heading toward the precinct. There was no one on the road, which was strange, especially when I crossed over into West Palm. I was about two blocks from the police station where I had been taken before, and I stopped at a red light. There were no other cars on the road, but I didn’t mind sitting there and having a few more minutes of time before I was taken back into custody.
As the light turned green, I sighed, stepping on the gas and moving slowly into the intersection. The headlights from a car to my right caught my attention, and I looked over as I heard their engine rev. Before I could even step on the gas, the car was barreling toward me, slamming into the passenger door at full speed. I put my hands up as the airbag deployed, and I screamed as the car slid sideways and then flipped on its side. I sat there for several seconds, breathing heavily. I wasn’t hurt, not even a bruise, but I was definitely shaken up by the incident. I undid my seatbelt and looked around, trying to figure out how to get out. I stood up on the broken window and climbed up, pulling myself through the window on the passenger side. Once I was on top of the car, I sat down, looking around at the mess all over the place.
Steam came out of the hood of the other car, but I couldn’t see the driver. I had to sit there for a few minutes to collect myself, feeling like I had just been hit by a freight train. Part of me was pissed. Why would that car speed up when they saw me passing through the intersection? I had a green light, and they weren’t there when I went to start across. They had hit me at full speed, enough power to roll Blaine’s car. I took in a deep breath and looked around for anyone who may have witnessed the crash, but the streets were empty, and all that was around us were shops with all their lights off. I scooted to the edge of the car and carefully lowered myself down, trying to avoid the broken glass everywhere. Everything was a mess, but at least, I had made it through it with barely a scratch. I hoped that Blaine wouldn’t be mad when he found out about the car. I reached down to grab my cellphone but realized it was still in the car.
I needed to check on the other drivers. No one was moving or getting out, so I wanted to make sure they didn’t need immediate assistance. I walked around the car, took one step forward, and froze. The car door flew open, and I could see a black boot emerge from the passenger side. Everything from that point felt like it was going in slow motion. As the person stood up from the car, I recognized them immediately. It was Harry, and she had the evilest smile plastered across her face. For several moments as she walked toward me, I felt like my feet were glued to the cement. The driver got out, shaking me from my stare, and I turned and started to run down the street.
I thought I was a good distance from Harry, but I was wrong. I yelped as she grabbed my shoulder and dragged me back, putting her hand over my mouth and her arm across my chest. As she pulled me back to the scene, another car’s tires screeched around the corner and stopped in front of us. Harry dragged me to the back of her vehicle and popped the trunk while the first driver limped into the car. I struggled to get free, but she was too strong. Before I knew it, she tossed me into the trunk of the car and smiled as she slammed the lid.
I looked around me, but it was so dark. Immediately, fear flew through my body. The adrenaline was gone, and I was absolutely terrified. I screamed loudly, but I knew the metal doors of the trunk muffled the sound. I kicked at the trunk, but it was no use. It was not going to budge. So that was it. I had made it so close to fulfilling what the mob wanted, but they caught me before I could make it. I was in some serious trouble, and no one knew where I was.
Chapter 29
Blaine
I opened my eyes and looked out the window, laying there for a second, just taking in the fact that I felt so much better. I had really needed a good night’s sleep, and between the fact that I hadn’t slept in days and knowing there was security watching the house, I felt comfortable enough to drift off. It had been amazing to wake up feeling strong and ready to face the day. I rolled over in bed to kiss Josie good morning, but she wasn’t lying next to me. I sat up quickly, startled by the emptiness I felt in the room. It was early, even earlier than my alarm was supposed to go off, and I knew there was no way she was awake yet.
I jumped from the bed and threw on my slippers, peeking in the bathroom to see if she was in there, but the lights were off and it was empty. Her clothes were no longer folded and sitting on the dresser, and fear started to creep over me. I walked out into the house and checked every area I could, hoping she had just found something to keep her mind busy. The kitchen was empty, the living room was empty, and there was no one in the spare bedrooms. I walked out of the hallway and over to my table, picking up the folders and searching for the keys to the car. They were gone.
I grabbed my phone from the charger and dialed Anderson at work. I wasn’t surprised that he was already there since he kept earlier hours than even my father did when he was alive. I waited as the phone rang and let out a breath when he answered the phone.
“You’re up early,” he said.
“Josie is gone,” I said, slightly panicked.
“What?”
“I woke up this morning, and she was gone, along with my car,” I said. “Can you send out one of the investigators to look for her? I’m going to go searching as well.”
“Yes, I’ll call them right away,” he said, sounding more awake.
“I’ll call you as soon as I know anything,” I said before hanging up the phone.
I jogged back to my room and pulled clothes out the drawers, throwing them on and brushing my teeth really fast. I pulled on a pair of sneakers and grabbed the keys to the SUV I barely ever drove. I went into the garage, uncovered it, and jumped inside, turning it on and taking in a deep breath. I couldn’t believe she was gone, and I had no idea she even left. How did I sleep through her getting dressed and taking the car? The thing definitely wasn’t quiet.
I headed over to her house, but it was still empty. I then drove over to the school, but no one had heard from her or seen her anywhere near the grounds. I drove around to different cafés and then over to the beach, thinking maybe she just needed to be alone. The security at home said my car was gone after they came back from switching shifts, so she snuck out between the guards’ watch. I was so frustrated, and I had no idea what to do. I pulled back in front of her house and put the car in park, trying to think of where she could possibly be. She wasn’t anywhere she normally would go, and it was the first time since everything happened that I felt like I wished I knew her a little better. Then, maybe I would have an idea of where she would hide out.
I sat there staring at her house, thinking about the night before and everything that had gone on. If she had gone to the police, I would have gotten a call, being that I was her attorney, but I had heard nothing. She hadn’t answered her phone when I called her, and she didn’t send any texts back to me, either. She couldn’t be mad at me. I hadn’t done anything, and I knew she wasn’t reckless enough to leave angry anyway. I looked down at my phone as it began to buzz and saw the police department’s number on the screen. Instantly, I could feel butterflies in my stomach, and I was almost afraid to pick up the phone. Slowly, I clicked it on and brought it to my ear.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hi, this is Deputy Parsons with the West Palm Police Department, trying to get ahold of Mr. Blaine Andrews,” he said.
“This is he,” I said.
“Mr. Andrews, we found your car on the corner of Trade and Carson, just two blocks from the precinct at about four in the morning,” he said. “There was another car there, and it looked like the other car hit your car and rolled it in the intersection.”
“Oh my God,” I said, immediately scared. “Is everyone okay?”
“Well, that’s the thing,” he said. “No one was in either car. They just disappeared.”
“No, that can’t be right,” I said, shaking my head. “My girlfriend was in the car.”