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"You got one for her?"

"Yep; a s Why don’t you let Mark take it, or I’ll put it on your run for tomorrow"

"No I’ve told you before--I’ll handle it"

The et in if corporate knew you were running these packages off the clock?"

"I know, I know I owe you"

"You’ve been owingtomorrow I’ll blame the delay on Atlanta if anyone asks"

Jeremy shook his head "No It’s close to the first of the e I’ll be by there around eleven to pick it up"

The hed "Whatever, Jere at the soft package in his hand He shook it, hearing the faaame that, despite his irritation, she seemed to find necessary

When he exited the elevator, the redheaded kid was already there, sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall His eyes lit at Jere nervously "Hey e in Jeremy’s hand

Jere the kid’s irritated face with a calm stare

"Come on, man--she always says yes"

Her voice was at the door "It’s okay Give it to hie, and the kid snatched it, ripping open the package and walking away,to hi to say so to say He scrawled her signature and walked away Nothing was normal with this chick

He stepped off the elevator and strode out to his truck, the sun warrinned as he pulled out With that errand done, the day was officially his, and he pulled out his cell phone as he ed onto the field, fresh-cut grass underfoot, the afternoon sun warhtened his cleats, then stood and flashed the athletic group before hiot here as soon as I could"

"No problem--you can just cover beers in," one o kick soainst a difficult opponent, stretched late, the field lights flickering on and illuame that neither side would back away from And finally, it happened, a perfect shot by Jeremy toward a smallof opportunity The ball finally stopped, its forward ame was over, won by the proper victor

CHAPTER 23

I stand under the weak spray of the cheap shower and try to wash awayout of this shithole When I decided to sequester myself, I was unsure ofaccount and no clear source of income This apartment had been cheap with no deposit required Noith a bank account balance coe, it is ridiculous that I live in a place with occasional hot water Butseems an insurmountable task And I chalk it up to a penance of sorts I killed, so I am punished

My last ca experience’ client I should be used to it, brush it off, and ht, but for soet the hoarseness of his voice, the need I heard through the speakers, or the hungry emphasis on the name he called me Annie It had been my third chat with Ralph, and the second time he used that name It isn’t often that clients use a specific name It isn’t often that I take the place of a specific person When he uttered her na but--it ripped rabbed it, squeezed it, then yanked it out, leaving devastation in its wake

I turn off the spray, grab the towel off the hook and rub down h the loft ‘til I reach the edge of my mattress I start to reach for the blanket to pull back the sheets and crawl in But I stop I stop and think--a foreign and co inside of n Years of tradition pushing against years of neglect I claspdeeply and try to figure out what the fk I a Then, I pray

My prayer is short and focused I pray for peace froe to hurt others will leave irl out there, a little Annie, I pray that God will keep her the fk away from the man named Ralph

The police reports cohterhouse They say that blood was spattered fro to floor and bodily fluids stained furniture, tile, and clothing Forensics and CSI figured out that she took un her weapon of choice--then turned the gun on Suun, to further destroy their bodies They say my mother was decisive--that there see she wasn’t strong about was taking her own life They say those stab wounds were shallow, hesitant, and only one was deep enough to be fatal What if seehout the reports What if she hadn’t killed herself? What would she have done next? Would she have left the house? Harmed someone else?