Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Do you have any contact information for this Steve Chapman?”
“I think so,” Ralph says. “Let me check my alumni contacts list.”
A pause. Tapping on keys. And Ralph breathing.
“Here we are,” he finally says. “Steve Chapman lives in Phoenix now.”
“Can you give me his number?”
“Sure,” Ralph says. He reads off a series of numbers, and I jot them down.
“Thanks for your help,” I say.
“You’re welcome. And Jason?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m truly sorry about Lindsay and your daughter,” he says, his voice full of sincerity and regret. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
“Me too,” I say before ending the call.
I stare at the number written on the notepad. Another lead to follow, another name to chase. The path to the truth is paved with painful memories and grim discoveries, but I have to keep moving. I have to find out what really happened to Lindsay.
I dial Steve’s number with steel in my veins. The phone rings once, twice, three times, and then a rough voice answers.
“Hello?”
“Steve Chapman?” I ask, my voice steadier than I feel.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Uh…no. I’m not. Is Steve there? I got this number from an old classmate of his.”
“Your classmate doesn’t keep up to date.”
“What do you mean?”
“This is Steve’s brother Tom. Steve’s dead.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Angie
Visiting Ralph Normandy isn’t the way I wanted to spend my afternoon, but I have a strange feeling that I’m meant to be here. That it will affect Jason.
Yeah, Ralph’s a dick. He tried to blackmail me into sleeping with him, and he went whining to HR about Jason and me. Sure, he did it anonymously, but still.
Is there anything good in him to see?
I mean, he’s going to medical school, right? He wants to be a surgeon. A healer.
That’s worthy of respect, isn’t it?
Normally the answer would be a resounding yes, but this is Ralph.
Tabitha comes with me, but Eli chooses not to. He won’t cut class for Ralph, and I can’t blame him. I have enough guilt eating at me from doing that myself.
I’ve cut two classes in two days. My first semester, I didn’t cut any classes, even when I had that terrible cold. I dosed myself up with cold meds, wore a mask, and sat in class taking copious notes on my iPad.
“Here we are,” Tabitha says when we reach Ralph’s room.
I peek inside. Ralph is lying in bed while a nurse checks his vitals.
We wait outside the room until the nurse leaves.
“Come with me,” I say.
She cocks her head. “You sure? I’m not the one he wants to see.”
“You think I care?” I scoff. “Come with me. You’re here. Surely he’ll appreciate an extra visitor.”
I can’t forget that Tabitha kind of had a crush on Ralph for a while. She may still have one…
Nah. By now surely I’ve convinced her he’s a dick with ears.
God, I have no idea what that even means. It’s something Henry used to say when we were kids.
I grab Tabitha’s hand as I walk into the room to make sure she comes along.
I walk up to Ralph’s bedside, where he’s staring at me.
“Back so soon?” he says.
I roll my eyes. “I heard you summoned me.”
“And you came just like that?” He chuckles and then winces. “Fuck. It hurts to laugh.”
“Good. There’s nothing funny about any of this from where I’m standing.”
He glances toward Tabitha. “She can go.”
I look at Tabitha. Her cheeks are turning pink.
“She stays,” I say.
“I don’t think you want her to hear what I have to say to you.”
I squeeze Tabitha’s hand. “Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of my bestie.”
Did I truly just say that? Tabitha squeezes my hand back.
“Sorry,” he says. “It’s nonnegotiable. I asked to see you.”
I laugh at that. “What makes you think you have all the power here?” I ask. “From where I’m standing, you’ve pretty much been beaten to a pulp. You probably can’t even get out of that bed. I don’t think you’re holding any cards here.”
Part of me can’t believe I’m saying these things. I’m Angie Simpson, the introvert. I was always the peacekeeper among the awesome foursome. I never started anything. Never escalated a situation, never made it worse.
But I like this new side of myself. This new side that my time with Jason has brought out.
“You’d be surprised,” Ralph says. “I still hold the winning hand here.”
What the hell is he even talking about?
“It’s okay,” Tabitha says. “I can wait outside, Angie.” She unlinks her hand from mine.
“No,” I say. “Why does he get to dictate the rules?” I turn to Ralph, glare at him. “You want to talk to me? Then talk to me. Show me your fucking cards. That royal flush you think you’re holding. Because I think you’re bluffing.”
“Really, it’s okay.” Tabitha walks swiftly out of the room.
Crap.
I can’t say I blame her. He was making her feel about as welcome as a case of herpes.