He hands me the phone and inches toward me. His face blurs through my tears.
“Hello?”
“Hi, baby.” I know pity when I hear it.
I wipe my eyes, hoping that with clear vision, a clear mind will follow. “What’s going on?”
He’s quiet for a while, and I can picture his face in my mind, the way it looks, serious and thoughtful, when he tries to formulate the perfect words. “It’s Laila.”
“Did you find her?” I say, hope filling my chest.
“We did … she’s gone.”
“Gone where?”
“Addie, she’s dead. I’m so sorry.”
My mind, most likely in an attempt at self-preservation, goes completely blank.
My dad continues. “It wasn’t Mr. Paxton. Mr. Paxton gave us the name of a kid from your school who is responsible, but it was too late.”
“A kid from my school?”
“Yes, Bobby Baker. Do you know him?”
I nod, too dumbfounded to realize he can’t see me. Finally I stutter out, “M-maybe he’s l-lying. Maybe he just doesn’t want you to find her.” Bobby may be a jerk, but I never thought him capable of something this serious.
“He’s telling the truth. We’ve already taken Bobby into custody. I’ve interviewed him. Bobby is responsible.”
“But maybe Bobby just thinks she’s dead, and that’s why you got the read that he’s telling the truth. Maybe—”
“I saw her.” His words effectively crush my attempt at denial. “She’s gone.”
I must’ve dropped the phone, because Trevor is holding it and saying something to my dad. Then he hangs up and pulls me against him, smoothing my hair and telling me he’s sorry over and over. I can barely feel him or hear him.
Then his mouth is next to my ear. “Addison, listen to me. Are you listening?” I nod, and he continues. “You don’t pick this. This has to be a Search. There’s no way you would pick this. Everything will be okay.”
I wrap my arms around him. He’s right, and I love him for saying it.
CHAPTER 35
PAR-A-site: n. a person who benefits from others while offering no benefit in return
Bobby turns away from the heavily secured door.
“Can I use your phone?” I need to call my dad and let him know I’m okay in case Poison calls him back.
“Sure, but where is yours?”
“I left it in my car.”
He peers out the long window next to the door. “I didn’t see your car out there.”
I point vaguely to the right. “I parked up the street.”
He smiles as if he knows why. “My cell is in my room. I’ll go get it.” He moves toward the stairs.
“You don’t have a house phone?”
“Does anyone anymore?”
I shrug. “We do.”
He disappears upstairs, and I move to the front window, parting the drapes to create a small gap. First I glance to the left at the streetlight where Poison stood earlier. He’s not there, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t out there, waiting. Next my gaze shifts to Laila’s truck across the street. I want to hurl a rock at it. Duke’s window is dark, and I can’t help but wonder if they are up there, in his room.
“What did my curtains ever do to you?” Bobby asks from behind me.
I quickly release the material I’m crushing in my fist and turn to face him. “Sorry.”
“Bad news. My cell phone is dead. Let me plug it in and you should be able to use it in a few minutes.”
“Maybe I should just go.”
“It will just take a few minutes. Do you really want to go out there with that freak? I think we should call the Bureau too, when the phone is charged.”
Good idea. “Yeah, okay.”
“The charger is in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.” He walks through a swinging door separating the main room from what I assume is the kitchen.
I double-check the front door’s slider. It’s locked into place. The room is dim, so I turn on a lamp that’s sitting on the end table. Bobby comes back with a bottle of water that he hands to me. “Have a seat.” He points to the couch. I back away from it and opt for the piano bench.
“Where are your parents?” I’m beginning to wonder if they’re ever home.
“They work early, so they’re already asleep.” He points at a clock on the wall, and I see that it’s after ten. Did I really sit in the car waiting for Duke for over an hour?
I take a sip of water and look down at my feet. “You’re his best friend.… How long has he been …” I can’t even finish the thought. I don’t want to know how long my best friend has been betraying me with my boyfriend. “He was using me.”
“He’s getting desperate. He wants to know without a shadow of a doubt which college he’ll do the best at.”
I want to punch something or cry, but I refuse to do either in front of Bobby. “I can’t tell him. Doesn’t he get that?”
“You could. If you extend your ability.”
My head snaps up. “What?”
“Advanced mind control. You should learn it. You could do so much with your gift.”
“And risk losing all my power? No, thanks.” I slide my feet forward, leaving a dark pattern on the carpet. “Is he using her too? Laila?” Is our lifelong friendship ruined over some guy’s inability to pick a college? “Or does he really like her?”