Doctor Allen says.
I forgot she was even in the room. “Thank you.”
“What was said during the two days? There were no known ransom demands that we were aware of.” Soloman gets his pad and pen ready.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Detective Lin asks, seeming unsure of my answer.
I’m a bad liar. But I’m going to have to pull this off.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I was alone in a room. I didn’t hear anything and no one spoke to me. Then suddenly, I was being dragged out, put in a car and then I was dropped off here. When I heard the car speed away, I took the chance and removed the bag. Then I saw where I was…”
“We’re happy you’re okay. You’ve got a lot of people worried about you. News broke, and you’ll want to debrief with your people before speaking with any media outlet.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“We’re doing a full investigation, Leah. We will find out who did this to you…and why.” Detective Lin crosses her arms again. “Do you want us to put you in protective custody?”
“No. I’ll be okay. I just want to continue with my life. I don’t know why this happened, but I feel like it’s over. I don’t want to let it ruin my life.”
“You’re stronger than most, Leah.”
I smile. They have no idea how wrong they are. After a few more questions, the police leave and I’m joined by Neil and Lucas again.
“Want to cuddle?” Neil asks, smirking at me.
If my body didn’t hurt so much, I’d totally cuddle it up with him right now. I frown and slowly shake my head.
He smiles and soothes my hair with his big hand. “I hope you don’t mind, but I called your friend Riley. She’s on her way here with your mom.”
“Thank you,” I say. Even though I’m not sure what I can say to them, I just want to see their faces…and have a good cry.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Weston
“Fuck!” I yell, enraged. My hand smashes through the wall in the bedroom I’m staying in at Josh’s.
Why the hell couldn’t I go with Riley? As fucking if she said no. I don’t care about how long I’ve known Leah, I need to see her. I need to see that she’s okay. She was kidnapped for fuck’s sake.
“Oh, my…Ahh!” I growl in frustration and run my hands angrily through my hair, pulling the roots.
All the local news channels are showing anything and everything on Leah. The keep playing her music video, which is making me want to punch the television and hug it all at the same time.
“Here,” Josh says, handing me a glass half-filled with scotch.
That’ll do.
“Thanks.” I look up at Josh. “I punched a hole in the bedroom wall.”
Josh shrugs. “Been there.”
“Police are remaining tight-lipped about any details regarding Leah Marshall’s disappearance. Her representatives are following suit. Manager Lucas Field gave cameras a smile and a quick “she’s okay” before climbing into a car and leaving the hospital this morning. Fans have gathered outside of the building to pray for Marshall. If you have any information concerning this, police have set up a tip hotline…”
“Who the fuck would do this?” Josh says in a low tone. “I wonder what they did to her…”
I glare at him. They better not have fucking touched her. I don’t even want to think about that. I shudder and look back at the TV. Deciding that it’s only torture to watch it, I text Riley to find out information.
Me: How is she?
Riley: She’s OK…
I wish people wouldn’t say that. Of course she’s not okay.
Me: When can I see her?
Riley: I don’t know, Weston.
Me: Why don’t you know?
Riley: Just…let her go. Forget her.
OK? I’ll see you back in WY.
What the hell just happened? Riley! Talk to me!
Riley doesn’t respond, and I let the phone drop from my hand onto the hardwood. Let Leah go? Not a chance.
***
Riley and her family flew back to Wyoming this morning. The police have surveillance footage from the Times Square
I forgot she was even in the room. “Thank you.”
“What was said during the two days? There were no known ransom demands that we were aware of.” Soloman gets his pad and pen ready.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Detective Lin asks, seeming unsure of my answer.
I’m a bad liar. But I’m going to have to pull this off.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I was alone in a room. I didn’t hear anything and no one spoke to me. Then suddenly, I was being dragged out, put in a car and then I was dropped off here. When I heard the car speed away, I took the chance and removed the bag. Then I saw where I was…”
“We’re happy you’re okay. You’ve got a lot of people worried about you. News broke, and you’ll want to debrief with your people before speaking with any media outlet.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“We’re doing a full investigation, Leah. We will find out who did this to you…and why.” Detective Lin crosses her arms again. “Do you want us to put you in protective custody?”
“No. I’ll be okay. I just want to continue with my life. I don’t know why this happened, but I feel like it’s over. I don’t want to let it ruin my life.”
“You’re stronger than most, Leah.”
I smile. They have no idea how wrong they are. After a few more questions, the police leave and I’m joined by Neil and Lucas again.
“Want to cuddle?” Neil asks, smirking at me.
If my body didn’t hurt so much, I’d totally cuddle it up with him right now. I frown and slowly shake my head.
He smiles and soothes my hair with his big hand. “I hope you don’t mind, but I called your friend Riley. She’s on her way here with your mom.”
“Thank you,” I say. Even though I’m not sure what I can say to them, I just want to see their faces…and have a good cry.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Weston
“Fuck!” I yell, enraged. My hand smashes through the wall in the bedroom I’m staying in at Josh’s.
Why the hell couldn’t I go with Riley? As fucking if she said no. I don’t care about how long I’ve known Leah, I need to see her. I need to see that she’s okay. She was kidnapped for fuck’s sake.
“Oh, my…Ahh!” I growl in frustration and run my hands angrily through my hair, pulling the roots.
All the local news channels are showing anything and everything on Leah. The keep playing her music video, which is making me want to punch the television and hug it all at the same time.
“Here,” Josh says, handing me a glass half-filled with scotch.
That’ll do.
“Thanks.” I look up at Josh. “I punched a hole in the bedroom wall.”
Josh shrugs. “Been there.”
“Police are remaining tight-lipped about any details regarding Leah Marshall’s disappearance. Her representatives are following suit. Manager Lucas Field gave cameras a smile and a quick “she’s okay” before climbing into a car and leaving the hospital this morning. Fans have gathered outside of the building to pray for Marshall. If you have any information concerning this, police have set up a tip hotline…”
“Who the fuck would do this?” Josh says in a low tone. “I wonder what they did to her…”
I glare at him. They better not have fucking touched her. I don’t even want to think about that. I shudder and look back at the TV. Deciding that it’s only torture to watch it, I text Riley to find out information.
Me: How is she?
Riley: She’s OK…
I wish people wouldn’t say that. Of course she’s not okay.
Me: When can I see her?
Riley: I don’t know, Weston.
Me: Why don’t you know?
Riley: Just…let her go. Forget her.
OK? I’ll see you back in WY.
What the hell just happened? Riley! Talk to me!
Riley doesn’t respond, and I let the phone drop from my hand onto the hardwood. Let Leah go? Not a chance.
***
Riley and her family flew back to Wyoming this morning. The police have surveillance footage from the Times Square
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