Chapter Twelve: Mazes
(Lauren's POV)
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Sunday
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Bo's Room-2:36 a.m.
"Is it morning?" I ask in an unintentional whisper, eyes opening to darkness.
It must be night considered I'm greeted by darkness, all except for the dim, off white light flowing in from the streetlight and forgotten curtains. I lift my head, looking toward the door, but there's no light seeping in from underneath like before. I tilt my head a little more trying to see the clock on Bo's side of the bed, but it's turned too far away.
A soft moan pulls my attention down to the naked woman who's thrown herself over me, not that I'm complaining. She looks so peaceful, and happy even.
I wonder what it would be like to wake up next to her like this every morning.
With Evony at first it was similar, I can't lie. She couldn't hide emotion while unconscious, she always seemed happy to be in my arms, but somewhere along the way that changed.
Maybe it just always changes.
Maybe it's one of those things like how the person can barely annoy you for the first year of knowing them, it's not till later they start to drive you insane.
Maybe it was simply because I never had any intention of giving her my heart that did it, though I was ready to stay with her.
I shake the thought off, looking back down at Bo to find my hand idly stroking her hair. It's something I hadn't even realized I was doing, but now that I do I can't believe how natural it feels.
After several minutes, my body beginning to fully wake I slowly and carefully slip from her embrace. I slip on my shirt and then pants all the while praying she doesn't wake up. It's not that I'm running away, in fact quite the opposite, but I know the second she opens her eyes and sees me dressed that's right where her mind would go.
I feel my pocket for my phone needing the light of the screen, I wasn't about to turn on lights in my quest for the bathroom, but I also wasn't about to stumble around aimlessly.
Pressing the power button, light proving too much for my apparently still sensitive eyes.
First I notice the time, then the notification for my 'Sixteen Unread Messages'.
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Dre: Hey. Checking in to see how you're feeling. (12:02 a.m)
Dre: HEY! Are you still alive?! (12:26 a.m.)
Dre: Okay. Okay. Given recent circumstances bad joke, my bad. (12:26 a.m.)
Dre: No really are you still alive? (12:42 a.m.)
Dre: Ohhhhh, you're getting booty from that fine female cop right? (12:49 a.m.)
Dre: Am I right? (1:00 a.m.)
Dre: Hellloooooooo? (1:09 a.m.)
Dre: That's it, I'm done. (1:14 a.m.)
Dre: Who am I kidding? I can't quit you! (1:15 a.m.)
Dre: LOL alright I'm done. Hit me up asap. (1:34 a.m.)
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I can't help but to laugh aloud, shaking my head at him and then myself.
Realizing Bo is still sleeping, I glance over and make sure I haven't disturbed her.
I'm safe.
I flick back to the next set of messages, my lingering laughter silenced and smile vanishing.
The next six messages from an unknown number, all of which are picture messages. One after another of me and Bo. Not separately, not out in the public, not from days ago. Pictures of just hours ago. Pictures from this room. Pictures of us kissing, of us doing things far more passionate than.
I walk over to the window, eyes scaling the rooftops across the street, only two which would be logical, but there's no one there now.
It's misting now, the window slightly fogged.
I led them-him here.
My eyes fall to the street. My car, Bo's car, Hale's car. Several others I don't recognize, but there's one parked in front of mine. One that the harder I look, the more I'm convinced someone is inside. The more I look the more familiar it gets to me.
It's Jason's car. I know it. I would bet my life on it.
"What are you doing?" Bo voice soft and sleep laced.
"Nothing. Go back to sleep."
"Aye-aye, bossy pants." She laughs, and I glance over my shoulder just in time to see her give me a horrible imitation of a salute.
"I have to go." I lie-only it's not really a lie. Quickly I walk over to the bed and place a firm, closed lipped kiss to lips. Her arms going to wrap around my neck, but I pull away before she can.
"Where are you going?" She still to asleep to sound upset, to even seem it.
"I have to go to the hospital." Another lie.
"I didn't know they still had you on call."
"That's about all they have me on now." I force a little laugh, lies wrapped in truth. It's enough she doesn't question, she just smiles up at me and nods, pulling 'my' pillow close to her, burying her face In it. A soft little sigh escaping from her, I don't even think she notices.
I wait for a second as I slip into my shoes, but she's already out.
I want to think about what I'm doing, but I don't.
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Wallace Commons-4:06 a.m.
I draw in a deep breath, walking into the lobby. My eyes shifting from one security guard to the next both sitting at the desk. Their eyes finding me instantly, and I just wait for them to say something as near them, hell maybe even attack me, but nothing.
I know they know who I am.
Everyone in this city knows who I am, so surely the guards in the Wallace owned building knows who I am.
"He's expecting you." One of the two says, just as I come within five feet of the main desk.
"Of course he is." I mumble under my breath, walking passed the desk and into the arching hall to the four elevators.
God, his buildings were just as gaudy as him.
It's disgusting.
The far right elevator on the right opens, and I take a single step in, but then I find my legs locking.
What am I doing here?
What am I doing here?
What am I doing here?
Despite the lack of a rational and logical answer, or answer at all I step into the elevator. Pressing the 'P' for penthouse, passing thirty-six floors.
I keep asking myself the question, but I never get an answer.
I keep asking myself what I plan to do, but I never get an answer.
The doors open, and all I can think is there is no turning back.
I step out and feel the air leave my lungs, but there is no turning back.
"Well don't just stand there." He says, eye meeting mine as he brings his glass to his lips. "Don't pretend to be scared Doctor Lewis, we both know better." He takes another drink, leaning further back into his love seat.
"I—I came t—to-"
"I-I-I." He laughs coldly. "Come now, we've come too far for you to back down now."
"Leave me alone."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I being a little too mean, should we build into it?" Another laugh, muffled by another drink.
"No. I mean leave me alone. You've won. You got everything you could have wanted from me. Just end it."
"End it?" A snort. "You're the one here Lauren. I gave up a while ago."
"I'm serious." I snap, taking a single step forward. "You've gotten away with it-all of it. Bryan and Taylor are dead, and you're free. My life-it's in shambles. You don't need to keep this up. What more joy could you possibly get from my misery now?"
"Well Lauren, there is plenty to still be enjoyed."
"If you want me dead then just do it." I take three more steps toward him, his eyes running over me curiously. "Just end it, because I'm refusing to play anymore."
"Getting a little over dramatic here."
"Are you even listening to me?"
"I'm listening, I'm hearing, but I'm just not seeing your point here."
"My point is you've had your fun. You've destroyed me and got away with everything, having your lose ends tied up in the process. It's over, lets just walk away."
"Lauren, you're not hearing me." He takes one last drink, finishing off the honey colored liquid. Leaning forward, he places the glass on his leg holding it by the rim. "I grew bored of you ages ago. The second I saw who you really were. Though honestly, the brutalization of Bryan was an interest twist. Didn't see it coming."
"Don't!" My voice raising as I lose my temper for a mere second. "Don't put that on me."
"Oh-okay." He winks and gives me a little nod. "We're still pretending that wasn't you."
"It wasn't and you know that."
"I do? How exactly would I know what you did or didn't do?"
"Because you were the one that did that to him."
"Me?" He laughs, leaning further forward and putting his glass on the table. "How exactly would I know how do that to him?"
"You went to medical school." I say, hesitation in my voice as I stare into his eye. They're the eyes of a cold blooded killer, but not of a liar-it's why Evony refused to put him on the stand, he would undoubtedly take responsibility for his actions.
"No." He shakes his head, laughing once more. "I never went to med-school Lauren."
"I—it doesn't matter. You have money to pay anyone, any fee."
"Please. I killed that woman and your father myself. I came up with the idea for the bank myself. I bribed that cheap whore of a A.D.A. myself. I don't pay anyone to do my own work. Ripping that inbred trash apart would have been fun, but I simply don't have the skill."
"I don't believe you." But I do.
"I don't give a flying fuck what you believe Doctor Lewis."
I just stare at him, upon reaching a stalemate I find myself stumped.
I thought I would be scared, but I'm not. I thought I would be in a rage, but I'm not. I'm too exhausted. I'm too tired to fight. I stand here and I find myself believing him, and while part of me says I've finally lost my last shred of sanity, there is another part that says he has no reason to lie at this point.
I know he has no reason because I no longer have a reason to lie.
We are complete opposites yet somehow still cut from the same cloth.
That, perhaps being the single most frightening thought I've even had.
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Outside-4:36 a.m.
"Shit." I say to myself, walking out to find Bo pulling up along side the curb. The passenger side window opening as I lean down to see the expression on her face to be one far from pleased.
"Get. In. Now." She orders through a clenched jaw.
"My car is here-"
"Don't make me ask you again."
"Ask?" I mumble to myself, but none the less following her order. The door barely shut as she speeds off, and I can't bring myself to look at her.
"Give it to me." Another order, her right hand extending to me with her palm up. "Now."
"I'm sorry." I lean forward pulling her gun from the back of my waistband.
"Is he—did you finish it?"
"Wh—what?" I look over at her, but she just puts her service weapon in her lap. "I just took it in case-"
"In case there was a reason to use it in self-defense?" She snorts.
"Something funny?"
"Just seems like you have a lot of instances where you need to invoke self-defense."
"Would you prefer I let them kill me?"
"No, I'd prefer you stopped putting yourself in situations in which give you the opportunity to—"
"Invoke self-defense?" I finish for her.
"If you didn't kill him then what did you do?"
"We had tea and crumpets, caught up on the old times. It was fun." This time it's my jaw that stays tight as I speak. She still doesn't glance over, doesn't even smirk. "He told me it wasn't him."
"What wasn't?"
"Any of it."
"Any of it?"
"He said it wasn't him, he didn't have anything to do with Bryan."
"And you believe that?"
"Yes, I do actually." This gets her to glance over at me, a look that questions my sanity.
"Seriously?"
"Yes, I really do. He also told me that the notes aren't his, well at least the last two."
"Just the last two?" She snorts.
"Yes, Bo why do you keep asking me what I just told you?" My brow furrows, eyes fixed on her face. "I know it sounds crazy, but I believe him when he says he doesn't know what happen to Bryan. I believe him when he says that he didn't send these last two letters."
"Why? Why trust him?"
"I don't trust him, I just believe him-on this."
"Lauren, Jesus Christ." She snaps just as we pull up outside of her building, the lack of traffic doing wonders for our commute time. "Bryan is dead. Taylor is dead. Dyson-is dead. Everyone who could have possibly had anything to do with this besides him-"
"Is dead?"
"Yeah. Jason Wallace is the only person who could have done this."
"You don't know that."
"Dyson confessed to you, Taylor didn't kill his own brother, and Bryan didn't chop himself up nor send you letters from beyond the grave."
"Bo," I pause, taking a chance and placing my hand over hers that rests atop her leg. "I understand that this is absolutely crazy. I understand that, and I understand you want this over-I want this over, but there is something not adding up."
"Exactly, we're taught not to believe in coincidences. Lauren, what are the chances that someone just happens to send you malicious letters right when Jason stops? What are the chances that someone else blackmails Dyson and kills Bryan?"
"It's-" I cut myself off, mind beginning to run a million different scenarios. "It's not a coincidence. It's someone piggybacking."
"Excuse me?" She chuckles.
"It's someone using these events to hide." I say my thoughts aloud as their being formed. "That's why none of it's made sense, because the lines aren't connected how they're supposed to be."
"What?"
"Think like one of those mazes in children's books. If this was done the way that we were thinking it would be like following the correct path to get out. This case though, it's like someone is using whiteout a certain spots to get them to the exit."
"But only certain spots, cause otherwise it would be too obvious there is another player."
"Exactly." I smile softly, squeezing her hand.
"This person though-I mean—I can't think of anyone."
"I know, that's the screwed up beauty of it. Seemingly everyone who would have a reason is dead." I pause, smile fading as I realize she just staring at me in an intimidating way. She's still mad. "Whoever this is, is smart."
"Knows the law system as well."
"Good point." I nod, pulling my hand back as I realize she still hasn't responded. "They would also have to know personal details of the case, of what's happened, of-"
"Us. All of us I mean."
"Along with a personal investment. Someone who could sneak around, and no one would question them." My words begin to trail as my eyes narrow in on her, she's just staring at me, this miniscule smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Or am I seeing things?
Connecting dots where there are none?
"What?" Her eyebrow raises.
"Why did you decide to testify?"
"What?" She laughs, then falls silent. "Because I was made to."
"No, Dyson asked you and you refused."
"I didn't say he was the one that made me. What is this?"
"Nothing." I shake my head, leaning back in my seat.
"You have something to say Lauren, say it."
"Why did you follow me?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Towards the end of the trial, I kept seeing you. I hadn't seen you once in years then-you were everywhere."
"Yeah, it was the end of the trial."
"But why me?"
"Because I-because I found you attractive. Because I felt bad for you. Because I-found myself drawn to you. Because I felt-"
"Felt what?" I look back up to her, this deer caught in headlights look on her face.
"Nothing."
"Tell me."
"Drop it."
"No. Tell me, you felt what?"
"In a way-it's stupid and insane, but I felt responsible for you." She swallows hard, looking down at the gun in her lap. "Your father said to keep you here, what it really meant was keep you safe. It's insane, but I just-I felt responsible for you in a way. I saw you, and I just I wanted to protect you. That's why. I wanted to make sure you were okay, falling for you was never part of the plan."
"Yeah." I say under my breath and nod.
A billion and one thoughts running through my mind.
A million and one connections being made.
A thousand and one words in our short time knowing each other being replayed.
A hundred and one facial expressions and reactions being remembered.
A dozen and one red flags popping up with each passing second.
A single sharp pain ripping through my chest as I find myself crashing into a conclusion that frightens me to my core.