Page 97 of Mr. Match

“I promise,” she says. “How much safer can I get? I’m practically next door. And you guys will all be at work.”

“OK,” I decide. “You’re right. Your place is about as close as I can hope for without handcuffing you to me.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll get my sister and we’ll watch the news for updates. We’ll be fine.”

I’m repeating those words in my head the whole drive over to her building. I drop her off in front, carefully watching the doorman get the elevator for her. And then force myself to drive around the back to the alley and park the car.

Paxton is sitting on the stoop that leads up to the back door, phone in hand, looking like he didn’t get a lick of sleep last night. “Change of plans,” he says.

Chapter Forty-Two - KATYA

At home, everything about my apartment suddenly seems wrong. I look up at all the places cameras could be, then look away real fast, trying not to think about it.

Act natural, I tell myself. What would I be doing right now if I wasn’t waiting for my world to end?

Lily. I’m waiting for Lily.

I’m still wearing yesterday’s clothes, and it’s still early, so I get in the shower, wash up, and then put on an outfit more appropriate to what is going to happen today. When I’m ready less than thirty minutes later, I call Lily’s phone to try to get a time estimate on her.

It rings through to voicemail.

I leave one. “Hey,” I say into the phone. “Happy birthday! It’s me. We’re supposed to have coffee today, remember? Hang out all day? Celebrate like sisters? Ringing any bells?” I pause, waiting for what, I don’t know. “OK, well, call me when you get this.”

My stomach hurts so bad right now, I walk to the bathroom, drop to my knees in front of the toilet, and wait to throw up.

My head spins with the reality I refused to admit to last night.

Lily is missing. Lily has been missing for almost twenty-four hours. I last saw her just before noon at the Antimony Association house.

What the fuck is wrong with me? How could I have left her there?

My phone rings in the other room. I get to my feet and race down the hallway, desperately trying to get to it before it goes to voicemail.

“Hello? Hello?” And I fail. The call is not there.

I tab the end button and hold it close to my chest.

The next rings scares the fuck out of me. I drop the phone, the protective glass shatters, and it takes me another full ring to snap out of my shock, tab the accept button, and say, “I’m here! Lily?”

“No,” the person says on the other end. “It’s not Lily, whoever that is. It’s Victoria, Kat. I’m sorry to call you.” She sounds like she’s crying. “I found your number in Ariel’s contacts. But you’re the only one who will understand. You’re the only one who will take me seriously.”

“Whoa, whoa,” I say. “Slow down. What are you talking about?”

“Weston’s parents are in town, Kat. And I know that no one believes me, but they are bad people. And they still think—”

I almost panic at what she doesn’t say next. This phone, my regular phone, is most definitely bugged. And if she admits to West’s death being a hoax—

But she pulls herself together and clears her throat. “They still think I’m going to like them. Accept them. Let them into our new family.”

“And you’re not,” I say.

“I need your help. Can you come to the coffee shop? The Conrads want to meet my son. And if West was still alive, he would never let that happen. So I’m not going to let it happen either.”

I take a deep, deep breath as I stare up at a possible surveillance camera and then let it out slowly. “I’ll be right there,” I say. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out.”

I tab the end button on the phone and speak to the camera instead. “OK,” I say. “This is it. I’m ready. I’m starting phase three right now.”

I put my coat on, go downstairs, and when I get outside I open up the secret phone and press Mariel’s contact.