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“Melissa, I don’t want to see Jon.”
“Jon is missing.”
Twenty minutes later I was sitting out on the patio of a local sandwich shop with a glass of lemonade as Melissa tapped her long, manicured nails on the edge of the plate.
“He hasn’t been to work since that night. He’s not answering calls and I can’t get up to his condo. The doorman won’t let me inside.” She took a huge bite of her sandwich. “I can’t keep covering for him at work. He’s missing court hearings, and I can’t get anyone to handle his cases anymore.” She took a long drink of her soda. “Please,” she practically begged, “please go check on him.”
I sat back in my chair and looked down at my phone. “Melissa, he lied to me.” I shook my head. “He told me that my best friend, thathisbest friend, was dead. For six years, he played into this fucking lie. How do you explain that?”
“Wren, I understand.” She paused mid-bite. “Well, actually, I don’t. I didn’t even know that you two had a best friend outsidethe two of you. Not once did either of you ever mention Alex.” She shook her head. “But that is besides the point. You need to be a better friend to him than he was to you. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
I chewed on the edge of my thumb and sat back in my seat. I was a little irritated with her. How dare she tell me to be a better friend to him when I knew he didn’t deserve it.
Did he?
Jon had been there for me from day one, but there would have never been a day one if he hadn’t told me Alex was dead.
“Fine, I’ll go check on him.” I stood from the table and dropped a few bucks for my drink. “I’ll text you.”
I headed to my car. I wanted to text Alex, but something told me he wouldn’t like me seeing Jon.
We hadn’t talked about Jon at all.
Before I could get too deep in my thoughts, I headed to Jon’s condo. I parked in the ten-minute spot to give myself an excuse to not stay long. Walking in, Berny greeted me.
“Hello, Miss Jacobson. It’s been a while. Are you here to see Mr. Smith?” Berny was an older man with smile lines and graying hair. He tipped his hat to me and held the door open.
“I am. Have you seen him?”
“I have not seen him. I actually just got back from my honeymoon this week. Fifth time’s the charm.” He winked at me and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Well, congratulations, Berny.” I headed into the building and into the elevator.
The anxiety built as the floor got higher. I didn’t want to see Jon, but I didn’t want him dead. I would just do a sign of life check and then I would leave and head home so I could get on with my day.
I exited the elevator and rang his doorbell. After a minute with no answer, I knocked.
Nothing.
Sighing, I pulled my keys out and unlocked his door, pushing through it.
“Jon?”
My eyebrows rose and my mouth fell open. It looked like a tornado had ripped through his place. There was broken glass everywhere, wood splintered apart, stuffing from his couch spread across the expansive space.
Alarm bells went off in my head. I was about to take another step in, then stopped myself. Something could have seriously been wrong in there, and I knew I didn’t want to face it on my own.
I called Mario. He answered on the third ring.
“I need you to come to Jon’s place.” I explained what I was looking at.
Mario didn’t hesitate. I could hear his car accelerate over the line and I was grateful I caught him when he wasn’t already on a job.
I met Mario and two more police officers down in the lobby. We rode up the elevator and I explained the situation.
“Wait a minute. Alex is alive?” he asked, disbelief in his voice. The elevator doors slid open, and we all stepped out.“Is this why you called me the other night?”
I nodded. “I know, it’s been a crazy last couple of days. I meant to tell you sooner. I really don’t have an explanation except?—”
