Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Are these special chips? Or just regular ones?”
“I like the Lay’s kind. Just regular, sweet and spicy barbecue chips.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen you eat chips more than like one time. Is it all the baking sweet stuff, you just want something salty after being surrounded by this all day?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I just know that I’m going to eat a whole bag of them, like a family sized bag after I’m done here.”
“Okay, live your best life,” I teased and kissed her forehead, “Lock the deadbolt, okay?”
“I will. And I’ll let you know when I’m on my way home.”
“Home, the barbecue chip factory so you can rob the place, whatever,” I said. I brushed my lips against hers, “I love you, baby.”
“I love you, too.”
“Not as much as you’d love me if I had chips, right?”
“At least I can keep you humble that way,” she grinned.
When I was on my way home, Noah called.
“Hey, what’s up?” I said.
“The cops can’t find Olivia, that’s what. She’s supposed to stay away from us, but she isn’t supposed to fall off the grid. A neighbor called for a welfare check because they hadn’t seen her in a couple days. She’s not at her place, but her car’s there. The security guy that Ethan hired said there’s no activity on her credit card, but she took some serious cash out on Friday afternoon.”
“Shit. What’s she up to? Listen, I’m gonna call Ethan. We’ll just take Madison to the farmhouse till the cops track Olivia down. Can you do that with the partnership on the line?” I said.
“I’ll have to. My boss knows the situation, and I have personal leave I never used. I’ll just give them a call. Have Ethan meet us there after his conference, okay?” he said.
“Okay, I’ll tell him. We got this under control. Don’t stress yourself out,” I told him.
I called him, then left Madison a voicemail about what was going on. I went to the loft and started throwing stuff in a bag. Then I called Madison to see how much longer she’d be. I felt antsy knowing Olivia was in the wind and Madison was on her own at the shop.
“I’m leaving now,” she said, “I just locked up, and I’m gonna stop for some chips. Then I’ll be home. I’ll meet you guys at the loft and we can decide what to do from there.”
“Okay but what if we want to share the chips?” I said.
“Then I’ll have to be faster than you, cause I don’t want to share these,” she laughed.
I heard her get in the car and heard the seatbelt click. She turned on the ignition and I said, “Leave me on speaker, okay? I’ve got a weird feeling, I’m nervous all of a sudden.”
“You? You don't get nervous. Remember, the other two have existential dread. You’re good at fixing lightbulbs,” she joked.
“Anything you want me to pack for you before you get here? Phone charger? That black lacy thing I like?”
“Hey, I’m open-minded, if you wanna wear my black lacy nightie, you go right ahead and pack it,” she said, “uh, Leo, why won’t my brakes work?” Her voice climbed higher, freaking out. “Something’s not right. I’m pumping them and they’re just—” she screamed, and the call cut off.
26
MADISON
I woke up aching and confused, squinting at the bright lights in my eyes.
“Hey,” Noah said. I blinked and saw him and Leo bending over me. Everything was bright and the room was cold. “You’re in the ER,” he said.
Fear ran through me like ice. I grabbed his hand. “What happened to me?”
“We were on the phone,” Leo said, “and you were headed home. You said your brakes didn’t work right. You screamed and then the call cut off. Took ten years off my life hearing you scream that way. I called 911 and drove toward the shop till I found you. The ambulance had just got there. You’re going to be fine. Bumps and bruises and maybe a headache. You’ll be sore tomorrow, but we are lucky it was a low-speed crash. That’s what the doctor said.
“They got her, Mad,” Noah said, “The cops on the scene found a GPS tag on your car. Olivia must have put it there when she worked at the shop and had access. She was nearby, and they caught her, just standing across the street watching your wreck she caused. I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry she did this to you. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“It’s not your fault,” I said.
“She’s locked up and she’ll stay that way till her trial,” Noah said.
I nodded, wincing a little at the headache.
“I got you these,” Leo said.
He grabbed something off a plastic chair and put it on my narrow hospital bed. Six little bags of BBQ chips.
“I cleaned out the vending machine on this floor,” he said, “Least I could do.”