Page 176 of Perfect Liar
“Something isn’t right. I can’t explain what I mean, it just doesn’t feel right.”
“What do you mean, something’s not right? You’re starting to scare me. Find a way to explain, Jess.”
She shushed me.
“Listen. Detective Parker is sitting at the bar. He never comes here. He showed me your picture, asking if I knew where to find you. He’s definitely looking for you, but why? Josh said the police were no longer interested in you, so it doesn’t make sense for them to be questioning people again.”
“It makes no sense at all. Will spoke with Josh to confirm they had cleared me.”
“I went heavy on Parker’s drink, but damn it, he still won’t give up anything. Did they find something else, some new evidence? No, don’t answer that…I’m just thinking stupid shit out loud.”
She went quiet for a moment, and then lowered her voice to a whisper.
“There’s more, Ells.”
“What is it?”
“Wait…Parker’s leaving now.”
“Don’t hang up, Jess. Keep me on the phone.”
“Okay, he’s gone. So the guys from McFarland’s year-round crew were in earlier. They come in and drink all day when there’s no work. Anyway, they talked about Will. I asked why they had brought him up, you know, since he’s been gone, and how they even knew him. Ellie, they’ve seen him here in town.”
They’ve seen him.
Muscles through my body locked down. My heart sped. I knew…I fucking knew…Will had absolutely gone back to Stonington, and he risked more than I could accept—he risked his own life.
“Ells…is he here? Hello…Ells, you okay?”
I knew what I had to do.
“I’m coming there,” I blurted.
“You mean right now?”
“Yes, I’ll call you back after I get a flight out. Don’t tell anyone I’m coming or that you’ve talked to me…no one at all. Promise me.”
“But why would he be here without you? Girl, you tell me what the hell is?—”
“I need your help, Jess. Just promise me.”
The tone of her voice broke at first, but then she decided to bargain with me.
“Okay, I promise. But. You will call me back very soon, and you will explain everything…or I swear, I’ll break this promise and tell Josh.”
“Deal. Go straight home, and I’ll call you soon.”
I leaped out of the bed and ran to my dressing room, pulled on a hoodie and jeans, and began throwing things into a suitcase.
CHAPTER 49
Going back to Stonington felt like a means to end my horrific nightmare. I couldn’t discern what or how it might come about, but I sensed the closure that I desperately needed.
Will of all people would understand. He would be angry with me…yes, probably. But he would also get my reasons for disobeying and forgive me.
As good as revenge sounded—revenge for my pain, revenge for Lissie’s pain—my need to see Will safe and alive was stronger. I needed to see him with my own eyes, to feel his warm skin, to hear him say he was okay.
Will was the reason for me to go back.