Page 102 of I Know Your Secret
I don't think I could handle reporters and media on top of trying to adjust to life after everything that happened.
Bill's trying to get me to give them details, but I won’t.
I turn back to my desk, waving him off. "Go find something to do."
I hear his footsteps move away hesitantly.
"He was so worried about you. Both of us were. Shit, even Sally joined in the search to find you," Melody says.
I keep my eyes trained on my computer, paperwork blurring as I zone out.
Sally, the local busybody who hates me, was probably only there for the notoriety.
"Well, that was nice of her," I finally reply, knowing Melody's still staring a hole through the back of my head.
"We just want to make sure you're alright."
"No," I snap, turning around in my chair to pin her with a distasteful stare. "You want to know what happened to me. I'm still processing. I've only been home for a week, Mel. Give me a break."
"Sure." Her hands rise in defense. "I'll back off. If you need me, though, I'm here."
"Thank you," I whisper, feeling horrible for how I just lost it.
Turning back to the computer, I hide the tears that fall.
My eyes flick down to my phone as I obsessively open his text again.
Nothing.
I shouldn't give a shit. He's a fucking murderer.
I don't know how he got his hands on his phone or managed to get out. Allison can't figure out how he's no longer in the jail's database, either.
She's got someone working on digging into Koen as we speak, and I'm waiting on bated breath to see what her contact comes up with.
A text from Allison comes through as if I summoned it.
Dusk tonight?
I don't feel like drinking.
We'll order a car, so we have a safe way home. Come on, girl. You need this. I need this.
Fine.
Tossing my phone down, I scrub my face with my hands.
"Hey, Mel?" My hands muffle my voice, but I hear her turn in her chair.
"Yeah?"
"Want to come out with me tonight?"
A beat of silence passes.
She knows I don't drink. Not since what happened that night with Koen. Now that I know he's alive and well, however, I need to start rebuilding my life, something Allison and I discussed at length this past week.
"Where are we going?" Mel asks.
