I opened my mouth to tell her about Jessica. The air choked my lungs and I closed my mouth with a snap.
I knew exactly what Irenna would say if I told her I might be close to tracking down the little girl that once had been her best friend. I’d heard it before and it didn’t matter that this time was different. I knew I was close. I knew it was her. It didn’t matter that it had been twenty years since I’d seen her, those eyes didn’t lie. But if I said something, it would only rip open old wounds. It was best to keep it to myself for now.
“I’ll call you soon,” I said. The memories were starting to seep into my head and I didn’t have the strength to pretend I wasn’t a mess right now. Just like the last twenty years of my life.
“I love you, Silas.”
“Love you too, sis.”
I hung up with a heavy heart.
Come hell or high water, I was going to find her. I was going to make sure she was safe. And I was going to bring her back to the people that loved her.
Interview
Part 3
“Let’s talk about the events leading up to when the police arrived on scene.”
“Okay.”
“What time did Mr. Ramos arrive at the residence tonight?”
“A little after seven, I guess.”
“You guess?”
“Yes, I wanted to make him dinner, so I did. I remember pulling it out of the oven. It was six. Then he called and he told me he was taking me to dinner. So I got ready to go out. And that usually takes me about an hour. He came walking into the condo right as I finished up.”
“Then you went to dinner?”
“Yes.”
“How were things when the two of you returned home? Did you have a fight?”
“He—” *sigh* “He was irritated about something.”
“Do you know what he was irritated about?”
“No.”
“Is that how you ended up with that bruise on your cheek?”
“Yes.”
“Is this the first time that something like that has happened?”
“Yes.”
“And I’m guessing you didn’t see it coming?”
“No.”
-6-
Jessica
I never thought I was stupid. Especially when it came to street smarts. I had survived living on the streets. I even spent many years with an outlaw motorcycle club, for fuck’s sake. I wasn’t dumb, I knew what went on. And believe it or not, that was the best situation I’d found myself a part of in a long time. My time there was good and I’d look back on it with fond memories.
