“How many women have you met like her?” I asked, showing him a picture of her, at her graduation.
She was unique, with her golden skin, her long, dark locks, and her amazing green eyes. I know there are millions of women in the world, but I am sure not many looked like her. Which was probably the reason she hadn't been able to hide from him. She stood out.
“I understand…” the officer admitted.
“Do you have recent pictures of her?” the man asked me.
“No… I don’t.”
“Yes, you do…” a policewoman interrupted him. “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I’ve seen pictures of you two all over the social media,” she explained, pulling out her cell phone. “You’re in all the town’s gossips newspapers,” she added, showing us pictures ofAilaniand me at the art show, at the beach restaurant, and at the gala.
“Yeah… that’s definitely the same woman,” the police officer agreed. “And this is probably how he found her.”
“Damn… I never thought of it,” I cursed myself. “I never pay attention to this kind of news and never thought it could be a problem. Ailani never told me she was hiding away from her husband,” I confessed.
“Well, let’s see if we can track this guy’s movements. If he faked his wife’s death, I’m sure he’s not happy she resurfaced,” he voiced my fears.
“Will you keep me informed?” I asked him.
“Yes… and please, share whatever information your PI gets, as well. The sooner we find her, the better,” he said in a dark tone that sent chills of dread down my spine.
“Thank you.”
The sun was coming out when I finally got home. I was coming out of the shower when my mother showed up.
“What are you doing here?” I had ignored several of her messages.
“I figured if I wanted answers, I would have to come and get them,” she said sarcastically. “What the hell is happening?”
“Why do you care? You don’t even like Ailani,” I replied as I entered my dressing room to get some clothes on.
“That’s her real name? I always thought Anne was too simple for a woman like her,” she muttered.
“Yes, that’s her real name,” I confirmed. Once dressed, I returned to my room. “What else do you want to know? I have to leave in a few minutes.”
“Was she escaping from that man? The one you asked me about?”
“Yes… it’s a complicated story, but I really don’t have the time to give you all the details,” I replied.
“I understand. He looked furious when she ditched him at the gala. I stalled him as much as I could, but after a minute, he simply left me talking to myself and rushed after her,” she explained.
“Why did you help her?” I asked, curious.
“Her cheek was bruised as if she had been slapped recently, and since I’m sure Matty raised you better, that could only mean he had hit her,” she explained.
I couldn’t hold back the humorless laughter. “So, you admit Matty raised me.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, pain disfiguring her perfect face. “Of course, I do. I was never a mother a you… that’s no secret.”
“Right… you wanted to abort me,” I spurted. “Why do you keep playing this role you clearly never wanted? I’m an adult now. You can pretend I was never born. Believe me, I won’t mind,” I added, not in the mood for her stupid little games.
“I’m well aware of that,” she admitted, crossing her arms over her chest and looking away. “But we don’t have time for this conversation.”
I sat down on my bed. “I have time to kill… until the police call me, there isn’t much I can do,” I said, certain she would mumble some bullshit and rush out of the house as if chased by demons.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she pulled a chair and took a seat. “You never asked me about your father,” she said in a low tone, staring at her wriggling hands.
